ACA0809

Xylene Recovery

Benzene
Toluene
Mixed xylenes
C9+aromatics

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(Source: Chemical Process and Design Handbook (p. 2.558), by J. Speight,2002, McGraw-Hill
Professional, Access Engineering)
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Process Description
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There are several commercial processes that produce xylenes via disproportionation or
transalkylation. These include UOP’s Tatoray and PX-Plus, ARCO’s Xylenes Plus, and Mobil’s MTDP
and STDP. The Tatoray process was originally developed by Toray and is currently licensed by UOP.
In this process, toluene or a mixture of toluene and C9+ aromatics are reacted to form primarily
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xylenes and benzene. An equilibrium distribution of xylenes is produced.

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Toluene disproportionation is a catalytic process in which 2 moles of toluene are converted to 1

mole of xylene and 1 mole of benzene. Although the mixed xylenes from toluene disproportionation are
generally costlier to produce than those from catalytic reformate or pyrolysis gasoline, their principal
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advantage is that they are very pure and contain essentially no ethylbenzene.
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Fresh toluene and recycled toluene from the product distillation area are mixed with hydrogen.
The hydrogen-to-toluene ratio is about 1 to 1.5. The mixed stream is heated against reactor effluent
and through a process furnace. The heated vapor stream flows to the reactor, which produces the
benzene and xylenes. The toluene disproportionation reactions are mildly exothermic.
The reactor effluent is cooled and flows to the separator, where the hydrogen-rich vapor phase
is separated from the liquid stream. A small portion of the vapor phase is purged to control recycle
hydrogen purity. The recycled hydrogen is then compressed, mixed with makeup hydrogen and
returned to the reactor.
The liquid stream from the separator is pumped to the stripper to remove light hydrocarbons.
The liquid stream from the stripper bottoms contains benzene, toluene, mixed xylenes and a small
quantity of C9+ aromatics. This liquid stream is sent to the product distillation section to obtain benzene
product, toluene for recycle to the reactor.
https://www.coursehero.com/file/64134737/Xylene-Recoverypdf/
 ACA0809

Reference
Xylenes and Ethylbenzene. (2006). Van Nostrand’s Scientific Encyclopedia.
doi:10.1002/0471743984.vse7597.pub2

Speight, J. (2002). Chemical Process and Design Handbook. Manufacture of Chemicals(p. 2.558).
McGraw-Hill Professional, Access Engineering

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https://www.coursehero.com/file/64134737/Xylene-Recoverypdf/

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