C8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon production using reversible flow reactive chromatography

摘要

A process for the transalkylation of benzene, toluene and alkylaromatic hydrocarbons containing nine and ten carbon atoms form alkylaromatic hydrocarbons containing eight carbon atoms has been developed. The fixed bed reaction and adsorption zone contains a transalkylation catalyst and an adsorbent effective to selectively adsorb C9 and C10 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon reactants relative to the C8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon products. Hydrogen and a desorbent are introduced to a first portion of the zone and an effluent containing at least one C8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon product is withdrawn from a second portion of the zone. After a period of time, the desorbent is redirected to the second portion of the zone and concurrently the effluent containing at least one C8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon product is withdrawn from the first portion of the zone. The alternation of introducing the desorbent to a first portion and then a second portion of the zone while concurrently withdrawing the effluent from the second portion and then the first portion of the zone is continued, thereby retaining the C9 and C10 alkylaromatic hydrocarbons within the zone until they are consumed.