Reduction of benzene content of reformate in a catalytic cracking unit

Abstract

A process for reducing the benzene content of a reformate stream in a conventional catalytic cracking reactor wherein a heavy hydrocarbon feed is cracked to lighter products by contact with a supply of hot regenerated cracking catalyst is disclosed. The reformate can be mixed with the heavy feed to the cracking reactor, but preferably reformate contacts hot regenerated cracking catalyst before the heavy feed is added. Benzene content is reduced by alkylation with reactive fragments created in the cracking reactor, or by transalkylation with alkyl aromatics. Benzene removal can be enhanced by adding a light reactive gas such as ethylene to the cracking reactor, by adding heavier aromatics, such as a light cycle oil, or both. The reaction is preferably conducted in an FCC riser reactor, but may be conducted in a moving bed cracking reactor.