Phenol removal in paraxylene recovery process

A process for the production of paraxylene comprising:

• (a) reacting toluene and/or benzene with an alkylating agent selected from methanol, dimethylether (DME), and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a porous crystalline material having a Diffusion Parameter for 2,2 dimethylbutane of about 0.1-15 sec−1 when measured at a temperature of 120° C. and a 2,2 dimethylbutane pressure of 60 torr (8 kPa), wherein said porous crystalline material has undergone prior treatment with steam at a temperature of at least 950° C. for between about 10 minutes and about 100 hours to adjust the Diffusion Parameter of said material to about 0.1-15 sec−1, under appropriate conditions to produce an aromatic hydrocarbon stream comprising paraxylene and phenolic impurities;
• and
• (b) contacting said aromatic hydrocarbon stream with a suitable adsorbent to remove the phenolic impurities selectively, so as to provide a product stream having lower concentration of phenolic impurities than said aromatic hydrocarbon stream, wherein the amount of phenolic impurities removed from said aromatic hydrocarbon stream is greater than the amount of benzene produced or paraxylene isomerized by said contact, and wherein said adsorbent is selected from alumina, silica, molecular sieves, basic organic resins, and mixtures thereof.