Combined heavy reformate dealkylation-transalkylation process for maximizing xylenes production

A dealkylation-transalkylation system that is useful for forming mixed xylenes from a heavy reformate that includes both methyl ethyl benzenes and tri-methyl benzenes comprising:

• a dealkylation stage that contains a hydrodealkylation catalyst, that is operable to receive both a hydrogen-containing material and the heavy reformate, and that is operable to produce a dealkylation stage product that contains toluene, tri-methyl benzenes and non-aromatic product gas;
• a non-aromatic product gas separations stage that is fluidly coupled to the dealkylation stage, that is operable to receive the dealkylation stage product, and that is operable to produce separately the non-aromatic product gas and a dealkylation heavy reformate that contains toluene and tri-methyl benzenes;
• and
• a transalkylation stage that is fluidly coupled to the non-aromatic product gas separations stage, that contains a transalkylation catalyst, that is operable to receive the dealkylation heavy reformate, and that is operable to produce a transalkylation stage product that contains mixed xylenes;
• wherein the hydrodealkylation catalyst is operable to selectively convert methyl ethyl benzenes and hydrogen into toluene and the non-aromatic product gas;
• wherein the transalkylation catalyst is operable to selectively convert tri-methyl benzenes and toluene into mixed xylenes;
• wherein the hydrodealkylation catalyst and the transalkylation catalyst are not the same material, and
• wherein the hydrodealkylation catalyst and the transalkylation catalyst are not contained in the same stage.