Method for transalkylation and isomerization of methyl benzenes

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR CONVERTING METHYL BENZENES BY TRANSALKYLATION AND ISOMERIZATION IN A REACTION ZONE THROUGH WHICH SOLID TRANSALKYLATION-ISOMERIZATION CATALYST PASSES AS A COMPACT, MOVING BED TO PROVIDE SUCCESSIVE TRANSALKYLATION AND ISOMERIZATION IN SAID REACTION ZONE THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISE INTRODUCING METHYL BENZENE FREED OF 8 TO 10 CARBON ATOMS LESS IN A DESIRED ISOMER, INTO THE MID-PORTION OF SAID CATALYST BED AND PASSING SAID FEED TO A PRODUCT OUTLET LOCATED ALONG SAID BED FROM SAID MIDPORTION TO ISOMERIZE SAID FEED AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 600 TO 1100*F., CHARGING METHYL BENZENES OF LESSER AND GREATER NUMBER OF CARBON ATOMS THAN SAID FEED TO SAID CATALYST BED AT A HYDROCARBON INLET FURTHER FROM SAID PRODUCT OUTLET THAN SAID MID-PORTION TO EFFECT TRANSALKYLATION AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 400 TO 1200*F., SAID MIDPORTION CONTAINING ABOUT 25 TO 90% OF THE CATALYST IN SAID BED BETWEEN SAID HYDROCARBON INLET AND SAID PRODUCT OUTLET, AND RECOVERING ISOMERIZE FROM SAID PRODUCT OUTLET.