Saudi Basic Industries Corporation

Manuel Castelan

Ashim Kumar Ghosh

Neeta Kulkarni

Pamela Lawyer Harvey

Mohammad Shafiei

A method of converting hydrocarbons requires contacting a hydrocarbon stream containing alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons with a catalyst of a phosphorus-containing pentasil zeolite in a reactor. The phosphorus-containing pentasil zeolite having a phosphorus content of 7.5% or less by weight of zeolite, a pore volume of at least 0.2 ml/g, and aAl MAS NMR spectrum characterized by a peak at or near 50 ppm that is greater than any other peak in said spectrum. A benzene-enriched output stream is recovered from the reactor.

Method for conversion of aromatic hydrocarbons

This invention relates to a process for pretreating a zeolite catalyst, specifically a zeolite which has been modified with phosphorus. The catalyst may be used in a process for alkylation of aromatics, specifically toluene methylation. The pretreatment is first to contact the catalyst with the process reactants used in a process for alkylation of aromatics for at least two hours at conditions to produce an alkylated aromatic product and then with a gaseous stream containing oxygen at a temperature and for a time until there is no oxygen consumption. The zeolite may be a MFI zeolite. This pretreatment procedure for a phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst produces a catalyst which has increased run time, i.e., decreased deactivation rate, compared to a fresh catalyst, even after successive regenerations.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Manuel Castelan