Process for converting hydrocarbons by treatment in a distillation zone comprising a circulating reflux, associated with a reaction zone, and its use for hydrogenating benzene

Abstract

The invention provides a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed in which said feed is treated in a distillation zone producing a bottom effluent and a vapour distillate, associated with an at least partially external reaction zone comprising at least one catalytic bed, in which at least one reaction for converting at least a portion of at least one hydrocarbon is carried out in the presence of a catalyst and a gas stream comprising hydrogen, the feed for the reaction zone being drawn off at the height of at least one draw-off level and representing at least a portion of the liquid flowing in the distillation zone, at least part of the effluent from the reaction zone being re-introduced into the distillation zone at the height of at least one re-introduction level, so as to ensure continuity of the distillation, and so as to withdraw a distillate from the distillation zone and to recover a bottom effluent from the bottom of the distillation zone, said process being characterized in that the temperature of the portion of effluent re-introduced into the distillation zone is lower than that of the feed to the reaction zone drawn off at the height of a draw-off level located below the re-introduction level. This process can be used to reduce the benzene content in a hydrocarbon cut.