Abstract
The conversion of heavy reformate into high-value xylenes was studied over a series of H-mordenite-based catalysts in a fluidized-bed reactor at 400°C. The results show that methyl-ethyl-benzenes (MEBs) were more reactive than trimethylbenzenes (TMBs) over all the catalysts studied. Mordenite catalyst with higher acid site concentration (M1) favored dealkylation of MEBs while another mordenite catalyst with lower acid site concentration (M2) favored disproportionation of TMBs. Mixing M2 with ZSM-5 (M2Z1) enhanced MEBs conversion (69.2%) and xylenes yield (22.5. wt.%). The conversion of heavy reformate and toluene mixtures over M2Z1 catalyst increased xylenes yield to a maximum at 25.3. wt.% for a feed containing 70:30 heavy reformate and toluene. The results of converting mixtures of 1,2,4-TMB/toluene and heavy reformate/toluene indicate that catalyst acid site concentration plays a key role in promoting desirable transalkylation reactions needed to enhance xylenes yield. The amount of coke formed increased with the acid site concentration of catalysts and more coke laydown was observed during conversion of heavy reformate than 1,2,4-TMB.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2125-2135 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Chemical Engineering Research and Design |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2011 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work is conducted at KFUPM-RI under the project No. CRP02238 sponsored by Saudi Aramco. The authors would like to thank KFUPM and Saudi Aramco for permission to publish this paper. Acknowledgement is also due to the Ministry of Higher Education for establishing the Center of Research Excellence in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals (CoRE-PRP) at KFUPM.
Keywords
- Aromatics
- Fluidized-bed reactor
- Heavy reformate
- Mordenite
- Transalkylation
- Xylenes
- ZSM-5
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- General Chemical Engineering