Processes for Transalkylating Aromatic Hydrocarbons

• US 20120083636A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Boldingh, Edwin P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,242,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 585/401
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2229/20 to introduce other elements in the catalyst composition comprising the molecular sieve, but not specially in or on the molecular sieve itself
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2229/36 Steaming
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2229/42 Addition of matrix or binder particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 29/26 containing arsenic, antimony, bismuth, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, polonium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium or rhenium
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 29/48 containing arsenic, antimony, bismuth, vanadium, niobium tantalum, polonium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium or rhenium
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 29/78 containing arsenic, antimony, bismuth, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, polonium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium or rhenium
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 29/80 Mixtures of different zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/615 100-500 m2/g
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/633 less than 0.5 ml/g
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/66 Pore distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/20 Sulfiding
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 15/04 Benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 15/08 Xylenes
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/78 containing arsenic, antimony, bismuth, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, polonium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium or rhenium
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/80 Mixtures of different zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 6/123 of only one hydrocarbon
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 6/126 of more than one hydrocarbon
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts

Abstract

A process for transalkylating aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon feed stream and a sulfur source to a transalkylation zone. The feed stream contacts a catalyst in the transalkylation zone in the presence of sulfur, and produces a reaction product stream comprising benzene and xylene. The invention includes methods to control the transalkylation process.

Claims

1. A process for transalkylating aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the process comprising:

introducing a feed stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon compounds to a transalkylation zone;

introducing a sulfur source to the transalkylation zone after 2 days on stream of a process cycle of the process, the sulfur source in an amount to provide more than 1 ppm-wt of sulfur based upon the mass of the feed stream;

contacting the feed stream with a catalyst in the transalkylation zone under transalkylation conditions including the presence of sulfur; and

producing a reaction product stream comprising benzene and xylene;

wherein the catalyst comprises an aluminosilicate zeolite component having an MOR framework type, an MFI molecular sieve component having a Si/Al₂ molar ratio of less than 80, an inorganic oxide binder, and a metal component comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, germanium, lead, indium, platinum, palladium, and combinations thereof.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur source is introduced intermittently.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur source is introduced during the initial one-tenth of the process cycle as determined by the mass of the feed introduced per mass of the catalyst.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the presence of sulfur is in the vapor phase.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur source is introduced to the transalkylation zone in an amount to provide from more than 1 ppm-wt of sulfur to less than 150 ppm-wt of sulfur based upon the mass of the feed stream.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur source is introduced to the transalkylation zone in an amount to provide at least about 2 ppm-wt of sulfur based upon the mass of the feed stream.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfur source is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen disulfide, carbon disulfide, methylsulfide, dimethylsulfide, dimethyldisulfide, diethylsulfide, dibutylsulfide, and combinations thereof.

8. The process of claim 1 further comprising separating the reaction product stream to produce a benzene product stream.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the sulfur source is introduced intermittently and a purity of the benzene product stream is higher during a period of sulfur source introduction relative to a period of no sulfur source introduction.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the feed stream comprises a C9+ aromatic compound.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the feed stream further comprises toluene.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein the metal component comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tin, germanium, indium, platinum, palladium, and combinations thereof.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the metal component comprises molybdenum.

14. The process of claim 1 wherein the inorganic oxide binder comprises a material selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, thoria, boria, magnesia, chromia, stannic oxide, and combinations thereof.

15. The process of claim 1, wherein the aluminosilicate zeolite comprises mordenite.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein the aluminosilicate zeolite comprises UZM-14.

17. The process of claim 1, wherein the MFI molecular sieve comprises ZSM-5.

18. The process of claim 1 wherein the inorganic oxide binder comprises alumina.

19. A method for controlling an aromatic transalkylation process, the method comprising:

introducing a feed stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbon compounds to a transalkylation zone;

introducing a sulfur source to the transalkylation zone;

contacting the feed stream with a catalyst in the transalkylation zone under transalkylation conditions including the presence of sulfur;

producing a benzene product stream;

determining a purity of the benzene product stream; and

controlling the introduction of the sulfur source in response to the purity of the benzene product stream.

20. The process of claim 19 wherein the sulfur source is introduced to the transalkylation zone in an amount to provide more than 1 ppm-wt of sulfur based upon the mass of the feed stream.