Conversion of heavy reformate into xylenes over mordenite-based catalysts

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.

Research highlights
► Mordenite catalyst with higher acid site concentration favors dealkylation while mordenite with lower acid site concentration favors disproportionation of C9 aromatics.
► Xylene yield increases significantly by adding ZSM-5 to mordenite.
► Higher xylene yield was obtained from heavy reformate compared with 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene alone.
► Maximum yield of xylenes was obtained over a mixture of lower-acidity mordenite and higher-acidity ZSM-5 from 70:30 heavy reformate and toluene.