Crystallization

One of the disadvantages of crystallization for PX recovery is the lower per pass
recovery of the
product. As the feed mixture is cooled, there is a minimum temperature, where the
other C8
aromatics begin to freeze together with the paraxylene. _ is is called the eutectic
point. _ e
eutectic typically limits the per pass recovery to about 65% on equilibrium
reformate xylenes,
and requires a low temperature refrigeration system. Even so, crystallization is
quite competitive
with adsorption systems. However, if the feed is enriched in PX by another means
(such as selective
toluene disproportionation), the per pass recovery is up to 95% and the
refrigeration requirements
are diminished, making crystallization a much better method for purifying the
product compared
to adsorption.
Kristalisasi
Recovery per pas rendah. Campuran feed didinginkan dan suhu rendah. Senyawa
aromatic C8 yang lainnya mulai membeku bersama paraxylene ini disebut titik
eutetik. Eutetik biasanya membatasi pemulihan per passhingga 65%pada xylene
reformate equilibrium dan membutuhkan system pendinginan pada suhu rendah.
Adsorption
A major disadvantage of the adsorption method for PX recovery is the diffi culty to
meet product
purity. Th is can be seen in commercial designs by looking at the volume of
adsorbent dedicated to
the purifi cation zone. In addition, there are several ways for impurities to
contaminate the PX, which
requires extreme measures for impurity removal and process control. Th ese are all
additive, so a small
deviation in any one of these can cause the entire product to become off spec.
• C9 contamination from the xylene column.
• Desorbent contamination from the extract column.
• Raffi nate contamination of the desorbent in the raffi nate column, which
recontacts with the
fi nal PX product.
• Leaks in the switching valves, or incomplete fl ushing of the adsorption
chamber lines, allowing
impurities to contact the fi nal product.
• Toluene contamination from pre- or post-fractionation towers.
• Ineff ective adsorption due to mal-distribution across the adsorption chamber
grids, leading
to poor performance.
Kesulitan untuk memenuhi produk pemurnian. Hal ini dapat dilihat dari design
komersial dengan melihat volume adsorben yang didedikasikan untuk zona
pemurnian.
Kontaminasi C9 dari kolom xylene
Kontaminasi desorben dari kolom ekstrak

Kontaminasi radikal dari desorben dalam kolom karbon, yang berkontak ulang
dengan produk paraxylene terakhir.
Kontaminasi toluene dari menara sebelum atau sesudah fraksinasi
Adsorpsi tidak efektif karena mal-distribusi di seluruh grid ruang adsorpsi,
mengarah untuk kinerja yang buruk.
• Ageing adsorbent media over time, or mechanical weakness resulting in poor
purifi cation or
complete failure.
• Mechanical weakness of the adsorbent in which fi ne or small pieces of the
adsorbent plug the
support screens and interfere with the approach to plug _ ow.

Conventional TDP processes utilizing Ni-Mordenite catalysts suffer from numerous disadvantages, including their
sensitivity and susceptibility to being traumatized by ammonia, moisture, temperature changes, plant power failures,
and other changes in operating conditions. Also, conventional Ni-mordenite catalysts suffer from the disadvantage of
requiring up to three or more days to get lined out during reactor setup, during which period of startup, there is no
significant acceptable production across the catalyst. The present invention provides a TDP process utilizing a Ni-
mordenite catalyst that overcomes these deficiencies while allowing the production rates to be increased several fold
and the selectivities to be improved at the same time.