Process and apparatus for the conversion of hydrocarbons

A hydrocarbon conversion apparatus comprising:

• a reactor having therein one or more catalyst compositions effective to convert an aromatic hydrocarbon stream comprising ≥5.0 wt % toluene and/or benzene having phenol therein to a reactor effluent stream comprising para-xylene and having a lower concentration of phenol than the toluene and/or benzene-containing stream, wherein the one or more catalyst compositions comprise an alkylation catalyst and a phenol hydrogenation catalyst, the phenol hydrogenation catalyst is present in a fixed bed, and the alkylation catalyst is located in a first zone of the reactor proximate a reactor inlet and the hydrogenation catalyst is located in a second zone of the reactor proximate the reactor inlet;
• an inert gas source in fluid communication with the reactor and configured to provide an inert gas to the one or more catalyst compositions;
• a reducing agent source configured to provide a reducing agent to the one or more catalyst compositions to reduce metal oxide content thereof;
• a first separator for recovering para-xylene from the reactor effluent stream to produce at least one para-xylene-enriched stream;
• and
• a second separator configured to separate from the at least one para-xylene enriched stream at least one toluene-enriched stream and at least one para-xylene-product stream.