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Hermant W Dandekar

Stephen T Wilson

Gregory J Gajda

Gregory A Funk

Robert L Patton

David A Lesch

Simon H Hobbs

Thomas M Reynolds

Masami Kojima

A process for the continuous isomerization of an alkane to produce an isomerized product through contacting the alkane with a simulated moving bed acting as a catalyst for isomerization and an adsorbent for the alkanes has been developed. The alkane may be n-butane and the isomerized product 2-methylpropane, the alkane may be n-pentane and the isomerized product 2-methylbutane or 2,2-dimethylpropane, the alkane may have from 6 up to about 8 carbon atoms with no more than one methyl branch and the isomerized product having the same number of carbon atoms and at least two methyl branches, or the reactant may be a mixture of the foregoing alkanes with the corresponding isomerized products being formed. In a zone of the simulated moving bed, the alkanes are catalytically isomerized to form the isomerized products. The unreacted alkanes are adsorbed, and the isomerized products are collected. In a subsequent zone of the simulated moving bed, the unreacted alkanes are desorbed using a desorbent and are catalytically isomerized to form additional isomerized products which are also separated and collected.

Process for alkane isomerization using reactive chromatography

This invention presents a novel MgAPSO molecular sieve, containing a critical range of magnesium in the sieve framework and having a small crystallite size, which is particularly active for hydrocarbon conversion. The sieve advantageously is incorporated, along with a platinum-group metal, into a catalyst formulation which is useful for isomerization. When utilized in a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes containing ethylbenzene, a greater yield of para-xylene is obtained compared to prior-art processes.

Discrete molecular sieve and use

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Hermant W Dandekar