AROMATICS AND TOLUENE/TRIMETHYLBENZENE GAS PHASE TRANSALKYLATION PROCESSES

摘要

A gas phase, aromatics transalkylation process that comprises contacting a stream containing aromatic hydrocarbons with a catalyst comprising a zeolite selected from the group consisting of SSZ-26, A1-SSZ-33, CIT-1, SSZ-35, and SSZ-44 in the presence of added hydrogen and in the gas phase, to produce transalkylated product. The aromatics stream comprises one or more aromatic hydrocarbons, one of the hydroxcarbons having at least one alkyl group attached thereto, the alkyl group comprising a C1, C2, C3 or C4 hydrocarbyl group. A preferred aromatics transalkylation process comprises contacting toluene or benzene or a mixture thereof with a stream containing trimethylbenzene in the presence of added hydrogen. The catalyst preferably contains a mild hydrogenation metal, such as nickel or palladium.