Selective xylenes isomerization and ethylbenzene conversion

A process for the isomerization of a non-equilibrium feed mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene comprising contacting the feed mixture in the presence of hydrogen with an oil-dropped spherical catalyst comprising a zeolitic aluminosilicate having a pore diameter of from about 5 to 8 .ANG. and said catalyst having a 4.6 torr water capacity 3-5 mass-%, a platinum-group metal component and an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder in an isomerization zone at isomerization conditions comprising a temperature of from about 350.degree. to 500.degree. C., a pressure of from 100 kPa to 5 MPa, a mass hourly space velocity of from about 0.5 to 50 hr.sup.-1 and a hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon mole ratio of from about 0.5:1 to 10:1 to obtain an isomerized product comprising a higher proportion of at least one xylene isomer than in the feed mixture.

A process for the isomerization of a non-equilibrium feed mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzene comprising contacting the feed mixture in the presence of hydrogen with an oil-dropped spherical catalyst consisting essentially of from about 10 to 99 mass-% of a zeolitic aluminosilicate having a pore diameter of from about 5 to 8 .ANG. and the catalyst having a 4.6 torr water capacity of 3-5 mass-%, from about 200 to 800 mass-ppm on an elemental basis of a platinum component and the balance of an amorphous aluminum phosphate binder in an isomerization zone at isomerization conditions comprising a temperature of from about 350.degree. to 500.degree. C., a pressure of from 100 kPa to 5 MPa, a mass hourly space velocity of from about 2 to 50 hr.sup.-1 and a hydrogen-to-hydrocarbon mole ratio of from about 0.5:1 to 10:1 to obtain an isomerized product comprising a higher proportion of para-xylene than in the feed mixture.