Process for converting oxygenates to aromatic hydrocarbons

An oxygenate conversion process, the process comprising:

• (a) providing a first mixture, the first mixture comprising ≧10.0 wt. % oxygenate based on the weight of the first mixture, to a fluidized or moving bed reactor;
• (b) contacting the first mixture with a catalyst at a temperature ≧400° C. and a pressure ≧2 bar absolute to convert ≧90.0 wt. % of the first mixture's oxygenate to (i) water, (ii) hydrocarbon, and (iii) ≦1.0 wt. % carbon monoxide, the weight percents being based on the weight of oxygenate in the first mixture, wherein:
• (1) the catalyst comprises ≧10.0 wt. % of at least one molecular sieve, ≧0.1 wt. % of at least one element selected from Groups 2-14 of the Periodic Table and about 1.0 to 90.0 wt. % of a binder, the weight percents being based on the weight of the catalyst, and
• (2) the hydrocarbon comprises ≧50.0 wt. % of aromatics, based on the weight of the hydrocarbon;
• and
• (c) separating from the hydrocarbon (i) an aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream, and (ii) an aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream;
• (d) separating paraffins and/or olefins from the aromatic-depleted hydrocarbon stream and recycling at least a portion of the separated paraffins and/or olefins to the reactor to contact the catalyst in step (b);
• (e) separating from the aromatic-rich hydrocarbon stream (i) a first stream comprising C6 and/or C7 aromatics, (ii) a second stream comprising C8 aromatics, and (iii) a third stream comprising C9+ aromatics;
• and
• (f) separating an oxygenate stream from at least one of the first stream, the second stream, or the third stream.