| abstract |
In the present invention, dimethylbutanes are removed from the raffinate component of the feed to a dehydrocyclization process. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, a process is provided for producing aromatics by the following steps: (a) contacting fresh paraffins rich feed hydrocarbons, containing 0.1 to 20.0 wt. % dimethylbutanes with a highly selective dehydrocyclization catalyst in a reaction zone, under dehydrocyclization reaction conditions, to convert paraffins to aromatics and obtain an aromatics rich effluent; (b) separating aromatics from the effluent to obtain an aromatics lean raffinate; (c) removing dimethyl butanes from the raffinate to obtain a raffinate of reduced dimethylbutane content; and (d) recycling the raffinate of reduced dimethylbutane content to the reaction zone. Preferably, the dehydrocyclization catalyst used is a nonacidic, monofunctional catalyst. Platinum on L zeolite is a particularly preferred highly selective dehydrocyclization catalyst for use in the process. |