Research progress in the catalytic hydrodealkylation of C9+ heavy aromatics
The capacity expansion or new construction of aromatic complex and ethylene cracking plant in China led to a drastic increase in the yield of C9+ heavy aromatics.The conversion of C9+ heavy aromatics to BTX by catalytic hydrodealkylation technology would be conducive to improving economic benefits for refinery.Based on the production of BTX from C9+ heavy aromatics,firstly,the mechanism of carbenium-ion and free radical in the reaction system of catalytic hydrodealkylation was emphasized.Secondly,the progress of the research on the hydrodealkylation process and catalysts in the domestic and foreign was summarized.Thirdly,the advantages and disadvantages of those process and catalysts was analyzed.Finally,the development direction of reaction mechanism,process and catalyst were forecasted.The future development direction of catalytic hydrodealkylation was to increase the production of BTX and simultaneously produce high value-added monomers such as tritoluene and tetratoluene.The research and development of novel catalysts should be combined with specific production objectives and reaction mechanisms,and the catalytic hydrodealkylation catalysts with high reaction activity,high selectivity and high stability should be prepared directionally.