Alkylation Process

A process for the production of paraxylene by alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons with methanol in the presence of at least one molecular sieve comprising:

• (a) providing a feed comprising an alkylating agent selected from methanol, dimethylether, and mixtures thereof, and an aromatic hydrocarbon selected from benzene, toluene, and mixtures thereof, to a reactor;
• (b) contacting in said reactor said alkylating agent and aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of at least one molecular sieve and under conditions suitable for the production of paraxylene selectively;
• (c) obtaining a stream comprising (i) paraxylene, (ii) unreacted alkylating agent, (iii) unreacted aromatic hydrocarbon, (iv) water, and at least one oxygenate (other than water and said alkylating agent(s)) co-produced with paraxylene in step (a);
• (d) separating (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) into plural streams, each containing said at least one oxygenate;
• and
• (e) recycling at least one of said plural streams comprising at least one of (ii), (iii), and (iv) to step (a) without a step of separation of said at least one oxygenate from said at least one plural streams.