Modified ultra-stable Y (USY) zeolite catalyst for dealkylation of aromatics

1. A process for hydrodealkylating a hydrocarbon feed to produce a dealkylated product, the process comprising the step of reacting the hydrocarbon feed with a hydrogen feed in the presence of a dealkylation catalyst, wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises aromatic hydrocarbons with nine or more carbon atoms (C9+ aromatics; and wherein the dealkylation catalyst is a framework-substituted ultra-stable Y (USY)-type zeolite in which a portion of aluminum atoms constituting a zeolite framework thereof is substituted with zirconium atoms and/or titanium and/or hafnium atoms.

2. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

introducing the hydrocarbon feed and the hydrogen feed to a dealkylation reactor, wherein the dealkylation reactor comprises the dealkylation catalyst; and

reacting the hydrocarbon feed with the hydrogen feed in the presence of the dealkylated catalyst to produce a dealkylated product.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the framework-substituted USY-type zeolite in the catalyst comprises zirconium atoms and titanium atoms.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the framework-substituted USY-type zeolite in the catalyst comprises from about 0.1 to about 5% by mass zirconium and/or titanium and/or hafnium atoms, each calculated as the oxide basis.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the framework-substituted USY-type zeolite in the catalyst further includes a support comprising inorganic oxides selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica-alumina and combinations thereof.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the framework-substituted USY-type zeolite in the catalyst further includes alumina as a binder.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst further includes an active metal selected from the group consisting of IUPAC Group 6 to 11 metal of the Periodic Table.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the dealkylated product comprises benzene, toluene, mixed xylenes (BTX), and C9+ aromatics.

9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein the mixed xylenes are produced at a higher amount compared with benzene and toluene.

10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the ratio of mixed xylenes to benzene and toluene is at least 2 to 1, expressed as the ratio of mixed xylenes:benezene+toluene.

11. The process according to claim 10 , wherein the ratio of mixed xylenes to benzene and toluene is at least about 3 to 1, expressed as the ratio of mixed xylenes:benzene+ toluene.

12. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the ratio of benzene to toluene to xylene in the dealkylated product is about 1: 4-10:15-25.

13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises an aromatic rich hydrocarbon oil having a boiling point range of about 50° C. to about 500° C.

14. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises an aromatic rich heavy reformate feed.

15. The process according to claim 1 , which is operated at reaction temperature range of about 400° C. to about 500° C., a pressure of about 20 to about 50 bars, a LHSV of about 0.5 to about 5 h −1 , and a hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio of about 100 to about 500 SLt/Lt.

16. The process according to claim 15 , which is operated at reaction temperature range of about 400° C. to about 425° C.

17. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen feed comprises hydrogen gas.

18. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the dealkylated product contains less than about 500 ppm sulfur.

19. The process according to claim 18 , wherein the dealkylated product contains less than about 10 ppm sulfur.

20. The process according to claim 19 , wherein the dealkylated product contains less than about 0.5 ppm sulfur.

21. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the dealkylated product contains less than about 100 ppm nitrogen.

22. The process according to claim 21 , wherein the dealkylated product contains less than about 10 ppm nitrogen.

23. The process according to claim 22 , wherein the dealkylated product contains less than about 0.5 ppm nitrogen.

24. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed is dealkylated at least about 50 wt %.

25. The process according to claim 24 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed is dealkylated at least about 60 wt %.

26. The process according to claim 25 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed is dealkylated at least about 70 wt %.

27. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of introducing the dealkylated product into a splitter unit and separating the dealkylated product into a light hydrocarbon stream, and a stream comprising C6+ aromatic hydrocarbons.

28. The process according to claim 27 , wherein the C6+ aromatic hydrocarbon stream comprises benzene, toluene, mixed xylene (BTX) and C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons.

29. The process according to claim 28 , further comprising the step of introducing the C6+ aromatic hydrocarbon stream into an aromatic recovery complex (ARC) to recover BTX.

30. A process for producing mixed xylenes from a hydrocarbon feed, the process comprising the step of reacting the hydrocarbon feed with a hydrogen feed in the presence of a dealkylation catalyst which hydrodealkylates aromatic hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon feed; wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises aromatic hydrocarbons with nine or more carbon atoms (C9+ aromatics); and wherein the dealkylation catalyst is framework-substituted ultra-stable Y (USY)-type zeolite in which a portion of aluminum atoms constituting a zeolite framework thereof is substituted with zirconium atoms and/or titanium and/or hafnium atoms.

31. The process according to claim 30 , wherein the hydrocarbon feed is a heavy reformate feed.