AROMATICS AND DERIVATIVES
TATORAYTM PROCESS
APPLICATION
The Tatoray process is used to selectively convert
toluene and C9 aromatics (A9) into benzene and xylenes.
In a modern aromatics complex, this process is inte-
grated between the aromatics extraction and xylene
recovery sections of the plant. Extracted toluene is fed
to the Tatoray process unit rather than being blended
into the gasoline pool or sold for solvent applications.
To maximize the production of para-xylene from the
complex, the A9 byproduct can also be fed to the
Tatoray process unit. This shifts the chemical equilib-
rium from benzene production to xylenes production. In
recent years, the demand for para-xylene has out-
stripped the supply of mixed xylenes. The Tatoray
process provides an ideal way to produce additional
mixed xylenes from low-value toluene and heavy aro-
matics. Incorporating a Tatoray process unit into an
aromatics complex can more than double the yield of
para-xylene from a given naphtha feedstock.
PROCESS CHEMISTRY
The two major reactions in the Tatoray process are
disproportionation and transalklyation. The conversion
of toluene into benzene and xylenes is called toluene
disproportionation (TDP). Transalklyation is the con-
version of a mixture of toluene and A9 into xylenes. The
Tatoray process is the only commercial technology
that successfully combines both in a single unit.
This process is designed to function at a much higher
level of conversion per pass than other toluene dispro-
portionation processes. With a typical 50:50 feedstock
ratio of toluene and C9 aromatics, the overall conversion
is approximately 50% per pass. This high conversion
level minimizes the amount of unconverted material that
must be recycled back through the BT fractionation
section of the complex. A smaller recycle stream mini-
mizes the size of the benzene and toluene columns, the
size of the Tatoray process unit, and the utility con-
sumption of all of these units.
The Tatoray process reactions are conducted in a hydro-
gen atmosphere to minimize coke formation on the cat-
alyst. Because there is negligible ring destruction in the
Tatoray process, there is very little hydrogen consump-
tion. The methyl groups are highly stable at reaction con-
ditions and are therefore essentially conserved in the
reaction. Most of the hydrogen consumption can be
attributed to the cracking of the nonaromatic impurities
in the feed to the Tatoray process unit.
UOP’s TA-5 catalyst has demonstrated high activity and
high stability as compared to its predecessor TA-4. The
stability of TA-5 is more than double, which results in
improved on-stream efficiency and a reduction in regen-
eration frequency. Commercial performance of this cat-
alyst has been outstanding. The catalyst is regenerated
in-situ using a simple carbon burn procedure.
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
The Tatoray process uses a very simple flow scheme
consisting of a fixed-bed reactor and a product sepa-
ration section. The fresh feed to the Tatoray process
unit is combined with hydrogen-rich recycle gas, pre-
heated by exchange with the hot reactor effluent, and
vaporized in a fired heater where it is raised to reaction
temperature. The hot feed vapor goes to the reactor,
where it is sent down-flow over a fixed bed of catalyst.
The reactor effluent is cooled by exchange with the
combined feed, mixed with make-up gas to replace the
small amount of hydrogen consumed in the Tatoray
process reactor, and then sent to a product separator.
Hydrogen-rich gas is taken off the top of the separator
and recycled back to the reactor. A small portion of
the recycle gas is purged to remove accumulated light
ends from the recycle gas loop. Liquid from the bottom
of the separator is sent to a stripper column.
The C5 overhead from the stripper is cooled and sepa-
rated into gas and liquid products. The stripper over-
head gas is exported to the fuel gas system. The
overhead liquid is recycled back to the PlatformingTM
 xylene product from a Tatoray process unit contains an
Tatoray Process equilibrium distribution of xylene isomers and is very low
Feed Surge
Drum
Heater Reactor Separator
Purge
Stripper in ethyl benzene (EB). This low EB concentration makes
Gas to
Isomar Unit
Fuel Gas
the xylenes produced by the Tatoray process valuable as
Toluene from
Toluene Column
feedstock to either a ParexTM process or a para-xylene
C9 Aromatics
from A9 Column
crystallization unit.
Overhead Liquid
to Platforming Unit
Toluene from Debutanizer
Parex Unit

ECONOMICS
The investment cost and utility consumption for a typical
Recycle Gas Tatoray process unit is shown below. The basis for this
case is a unit processing 355 KMTA(7,700 BPSD) of a
process unit debutanizer column so that any benzene in feed consisting of 60 wt-% toluene and 40 wt-% A9. The
this stream may be recovered in the Sulfolane (extraction) investment cost is limited to the Tatoray process unit and
unit. The benzene and xylene products, together with the stripper column and does not include further downstream
unreacted toluene and A9, are taken from the bottom of product fractionation. The estimated inside battery limits
the stripper and recycled back to the BT fractionation (ISBL) erected cost for the unit assumes construction on a
section of the aromatics complex. U.S. Gulf Coast site in 1999.

Estimated ISBL Cost,* US MM$

PROCESS PERFORMANCE (including initial catalyst and
A Tatoray process unit is capable of processing feed- chemical inventories) 11.3
stocks ranging from 100 wt-% toluene to 100 wt-% A9. Utility Consumption
The optimal concentration of A9 in the feed is typically Electric power, kW 341
40-60 wt-%. The ability to process A9 makes more feed- High pressure steam, MT/hr 11.2
stock available for xylenes production and dramatically Cooling water, m3/h 478
shifts the selectivity of the unit away from benzene. Fuel fired, kcal/hr (millions) 10
*Includes engineering, procurement, erection of equipment on site, and the initial
An aromatics complex without a Tatoray process unit can load of TA-4 catalyst.
produce approximately 200,000 MTA of para-xylene COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE
from 25,000 BPSD of Light Arabian naphtha (160-300°F
cut). If an A7 Tatoray process unit (toluene feed only) is As of mid-2001, UOP had licensed a total of 47 Tatoray
added to the complex, the same amount of naphtha can process units, 29 of them in the last 15 years. Feedstocks
produce 280,000 MTA of para-xylene, a 40% increase. range from 100 wt-% toluene to a mixture of 30 wt-%
When an A7/A9 Tatoray process unit is added to the com- toluene and 70 wt-% A9. Design feed rates range from 17
plex, the endpoint of the naphtha is increased from 300 to to 146 m3/hr (2,600 BPSD to 22,000 BPSD).
340°F in order to maximize the amount of A9 precursors
in the feed. The heavier naphtha will produce approxi- FOR MORE INFORMATION
mately 420,000 MTA para-xylene – an increase of 110% For more information, contact your UOP representative or
over the base complex. UOP at:
The Tatoray process produces petrochemical grade ben- Phone: 1-847-391-2000
zene and xylenes products. Benzene purity with 100% Fax: 1-847-391-2253
toluene feed easily meets the ASTM specifications for E-mail: petrochm@uop.com
Refined 545 grade benzene. With a feed of 50% toluene
and 50% C9 aromatics, the benzene product purity meets
the specifications for Refined 535 grade benzene. The

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