Fluid bed catalytic upgrading of reformate

Abstract

A continuous process for upgrading reformate feedstock or the like to reduce benzene content and increase octane fuel rating. The improved process comprises maintaining a fluidized bed of regenerable acid solid medium pore zeolite catalyst particles in a turbulent regime reaction zone, preferably maintained with a superficial gas velocity of 0.1 to 1 meter/sec. with reformate feedstock being introduced at a bottom portion of the reaction zone at a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 0.1 to 5, based on active catalyst solids; reaction zone total pressure being less than 2000 kPa. The preferred catalyst particles have an average particle size of 20 to 100 microns (.mu.), with about 10 to 25% of the catalyst particles comprising fine particles having a particle size less than 30 microns; and the preferred zeolite catalyst comprises shape selective medium pore aluminosilicate zeolite having a constraint index of 1 to 12. The benzene is reacted by contacting reformate feedstock, such as C.sub.6 distillation heart cut containing at least 70 wt % compounds having six carbon atoms, including benzene, n-hexane and isohexane, with said catalyst particles at reaction temperature of 370.degree. to 540.degree. C. and at benzene partial pressure of at least 200 kPa under reformate conversion conditions sufficient to convert at least 40% of feedstock benzene per pass, thereby producing a high octane fuel product containing less than 10 wt % C.sub.10.sup.+ components.