Exxonmobil Technology and Engineering Company

Seth M Washburn

Wenyih Frank Lai

Doron Levin

Hsu Chiang

Umar Aslam

Tan-Jen Chen

This disclosure provides improved processes for converting benzene/toluene via methylation with methanol/dimethyl ether for producing, e.g., p-xylene. In an embodiment, a process utilizes a methylation catalyst system comprising a molecular sieve catalyst and an auxiliary catalyst. The auxiliary catalyst comprises a metal element selected from Group 2, Group 3, the lanthanide series, the actinide series, and mixtures and combinations thereof. The auxiliary catalyst may comprise the oxide of the metal element. Deactivation of the molecular sieve catalyst can be reduced with the inclusion of the auxiliary catalyst in the methylation catalyst system.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Seth M Washburn