Catalytic steam dealkylation of alkyl aromatics - giving high purity aromatics and hydrogen

摘要

Dealkylated aromatic-hydrocarbons are produced by subjecting a hydrocarbon oil contg. =50 wt.% alkylaromatics and having an initial b.p =5 degrees C higher than the dealkylated prodt. to catalytic steam-dealkylation and recovering the dealkylated aromatics and H2 from the prodts. The starting material is pref a catalytic reformate or a fraction boiling in the gasoline range obtd. by thermal cracking. The catalyst pref. contains Ni and Th or Rh and U. The process can be used to produce high -purity benzene (and opt. toluene) and H2.