Process for the production of xylenes

A process for producing para-xylene, the process comprising:

• (a) separating a feed stream comprising C6+ aromatic hydrocarbons into at least a toluene-containing stream and a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream;
• (b) contacting at least part of the toluene-containing stream from step (a) with a disproportionation catalyst under conditions effective to convert toluene and produce a disproportionated effluent stream containing benzene and xylenes;
• (c) separating the disproportionated effluent stream from step (b) into a benzene stream and a first xylenes stream;
• (d) contacting at least part of the benzene stream from step (c) with a methylating agent under conditions effective to convert benzene and produce a methylated effluent stream containing toluene and xylenes;
• (e) separating the methylated effluent stream from step (d) into a toluene stream and a second xylenes stream;
• (f) recycling at least part of the toluene stream from step (e) to the disproportionation step (b);
• (g) recovering para-xylene from the C8 aromatic hydrocarbon-containing stream from step (a), the first xylene stream from step (c), and the second xylenes stream from step (e) to produce at least one para-xylene depleted stream;
• (h) contacting at least part of the at least one para-xylene depleted stream from step (g) with a xylene isomerization catalyst under liquid phase conditions effective to isomerize xylenes in the para-xylene depleted stream and produce a first isomerized stream;
• (i) contacting at least part of the at least one para-xylene depleted stream from step (g) with a xylene isomerization catalyst under vapor phase conditions effective to isomerize xylenes and dealkylate or isomerize ethylbenzene in the para-xylene depleted stream and produce a second isomerized stream;
• and
• (j) recycling at least part of the first isomerized stream from step (h) and second isomerized stream from step (i) to the para-xylene recovery step (g).