Claims
- 1. A process for effecting vapor-phase disproportionation of toluene which comprises contacting toluene with a catalyst composition comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite characterized by a silica/alumina mole ratio of greater than 12 and a constraint index within the approximate range of 1 to 12 and containing cations which are predominately hydrogen, hydrogen precursor and/or a non-noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, said toluene having been dried prior to said contacting, under conditions effective for accomplishing said vapor-phase disproportionation including a reactor inlet temperature between about 650.degree. F and about 1100.degree. F, a hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio of between 0 and about 4, a reactor pressure between atmospheric and about 1000 psig and a weight hourly space velocity of between about 1 and about 20, whereby from about 40 to about 50 weight percent of said toluene is disproportionated and the approach to equilibrium for para-xylene in the process is greater than 100%.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said zeolite is ZSM-5.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the reactor inlet temperature is between about 850.degree. F and 1000.degree. F and the reactor pressure is between about 400 and 800 psig.
- 4. The process of claim 1 wherein said catalyst composition comprises said crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite combined in an amount of between about 30 and about 90 weight percent in a binder therefor.
- 5. The process of claim 4 wherein said binder is alumina.
- 6. The process of claim 5 wherein said alumina binder is present in about 35 percent of the total catalyst composition.
- 7. The process of claim 1 wherein said cations are predominately hydrogen.
- 8. The process of claim 1 wherein said cations are predominately a non-noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table.
- 9. The process of claim 8 wherein said cations are nickel.
- 10. The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio is between 0 and about 3.
- 11. The process of claim 10 wherein said hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio is between 0 and about 1.5.
- 12. The process of claim 11 wherein said hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio is 0.
- 13. The process of claim 2 wherein the reactor inlet temperature is between about 850.degree. F and 100.degree. F and the reactor pressure is between about 400 and 800 psig.
- 14. The process of claim 2 wherein said catalyst composition comprises said crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite combined in an amount of between about 30 and about 90 weight percent in a binder therefor.
- 15. The process of claim 14 wherein said binder is alumina.
- 16. The process of claim 15 wherein said alumina binder is present in about 35 weight percent of the total catalyst composition.
- 17. The process of claim 2 wherein said cations are predominately hydrogen.
- 18. The process of claim 2 wherein said cations are predominately a non-noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table.
- 19. The process of claim 18 wherein said cations are nickel.
- 20. The process of claim 2 wherein said hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio is between 0 and about 3.
- 21. The process of claim 20 wherein said hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio is between 0 and about 1.5.
- 22. The process of claim 21 wherein said hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio is 0.
- 23. The process of claim 1 wherein said toluene has been dried by percolation through silica gel or a molecular sieve.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 571,122, filed Apr. 24, 1975 now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 431,519, filed Jan. 7, 1974, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3751504 |
Keown et al. |
Aug 1973 |
|
3790471 |
Arqzurer et al. |
Feb 1974 |
|
3855328 |
Hedge |
Dec 1974 |
|
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
571122 |
Apr 1975 |
|
Parent |
431519 |
Jan 1974 |
|