Processes for aromatization of naphtha isoparaffins

Abstract

A method for upgrading a naphtha feed includes passing the naphtha feed to an adsorption unit to produce at least a paraffin stream and an isoparaffin stream, wherein the isoparaffin stream comprises isoparaffins and aromatics. Passing the isoparaffin stream to an isoparaffin aromatization catalytic unit that contacts the isoparaffin stream with at least one aromatization catalyst produces aromatics from the isoparaffins thereby yielding an aromatization effluent. The at least one aromatization catalyst may comprise ZSM-5 zeolite. Benzene, toluene, and/or xylene (BTX) may be separated from the aromatization effluent by separating the aromatics effluent into a gas stream and a liquid stream in a gas/liquid separator, wherein the liquid stream contains BTX. Passing the liquid stream to a BTX-separation unit may produce a BTX stream and a recycle stream, wherein the BTX stream contains benzene, toluene, and/or xylene.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.