Method of obtaining para-xylene

US7271305B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC. · US

Inventors

• Bryce Williams · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Ruth Ann Doyle · Oswego, US
• Jeffrey T. Miller · Naperville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 2003
• Grant date: Sep 18, 2007
• Expiry date: Nov 8, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C7/12
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an improved method for making and obtaining para-xylene from a mixture of xylene isomers, and various embodiments of the method. The method generally includes contacting a mixture comprising xylene isomers and ethylbenzene with a para-xylene selective adsorbent to obtain a para-xylene depleted raffinate, and a desorption effluent comprising a para-xylene enriched product. The method also includes isomerizing the para-xylene depleted raffinate. The contacting step is carried out in a manner such that the raffinate need not be pressurized prior to isomerization, thus advantageously obviating expensive compression steps.