3. Conversion processes

Aromatics production is unbalanced in relation to market requirements. For this reason, transformation processes have been developed to convert the less interesting aromatics (toluene, metaxylene) into more readily marketable aromatics (paraxylene).

In general, in chemical conversion reactions within the aromatic complex, the benzene ring is little affected. Instead, the reactions take place mainly on the alkyl radicals of the benzene ring.

Aromatics conversion processes are mainly aimed at :

• convert toluene into benzene by hydrodealkylation ;

• transform toluene into benzene and xylenes by dismutation ;

• transform toluene and heavy aromatics ${\text{C}}_9^{+}$...