Hybrid Process for o‐ and p‐Xylene Production in Aromatics Plants

A new hybrid process for the production of o‐ and p‐xylene is proposed to replace the traditional plant of aromatics in refineries. The proposed process comprises a simulated moving bed (SMB) unit and two crystallizers. The SMB technology as the first unit of the suggested process is applied for the separation of xylene isomers and was investigated by simulation of an industrial size unit, using experimentally measured adsorption equilibrium data on MIL‐53(Al)‐shaped material. The separation of p‐xylene from o‐xylene with m‐xylene as desorbent is the key characteristic of this method. An industrial‐scale SMB unit could provide extract and raffinate streams with very high purities.