Robert M Ware

US Patent:

59395974, Aug 17, 1999

Filed:

Oct 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/954787

Inventors:

Ralph M. Dessau - Edison NJ
David H. Olson - Pennington NJ
Robert A. Ware - Wyndmoor PA
Sadi Mizrahi - Cherry Hill NJ

Assignee:

Mobil Oil Corporation - Fairfax VA

International Classification:

C07C 266

US Classification:

585447

Abstract:

Para-xylene is produced by toluene methylation by charging toluene and a methylating agent to a fluidized bed of catalyst at a rate sufficient to maintain the fluidized bed in a turbulent sub-transport flow regime, reacting the toluene with the methylating agent, and recovering para-xylene from the fluidized bed. The fluidizable catalyst is a microporous material having a Constraint Index of about 1 to about 12. The relative concentration of the catalyst particles having a major dimension of less than 40 microns is controlled at between about 5 and 35 weight percent. The catalyst particles have an apparent particle density of about 0. 9 to 1. 6 grams per cubic centimeter, a size range of about 1 to 150 microns, and average particle size of about 20 to 100 microns.