HDA

BENZENE VIA HYDRODALKYLATION OF C7-C11 AROMATICS

THE FIRST THERMAL HDA PROCESS

The original thermal hydrodealkylation (HDA)
process was developed by Arco and HRI (now Axens
North America). This well-established process is the
most attractive route to high purity benzene
production from toluene, ethylbenzene and mixed
xylenes and even C9-C11 aromatics. The non catalytic
process is efficient in regard to both yield and energy
consumption; it uses Axens' proprietary know-how in
plug-flow reactor design with multiple quench
injection points, optimum heat recovery, diphenyl
recycle, and the most recent hydrogen recovery
technology.

NO HDA CATALYST COSTS

One advantage of Axens' technology is the absence of
HDA catalyst. In addition to avoiding the initial and
replacement catalyst purchase costs, the owner avoids
costs related to catalyst storage, preparation, loading
and unloading as well as operating problems such as
downtime, bed fouling, poor flow distribution,
catalyst poisoning, and the safety and environmental
costs related to bed replacement.

diphenyl depresses its overall production

therefore increases benzene production.

and

PROCESS DESCRIPTION
Sulfur compounds, diolefins and olefins must be
removed by hydrotreatment either in upstream units or
immediately ahead of the HDA reactor. In either case,
various Axens' hydrogenation processes such as HD1, HD-2, and Arofining are available for this task and
can be easily integrated into the HDA process.
Fresh C7-C8+ (to C11) feed is mixed with hydrogen
recycle, make-up hydrogen and C7+ aromatics from
the recycle tower. The mixture is heated by exchange
with reactor effluent and by a furnace that also
generates HP steam for better heat recovery. Tight
temperature control is maintained in the reactor to
arrive at high yields using a multi-point hydrogen
injection technique. In this way, conversion is
controlled at the optimum level, which depends on
reactor throughput, conditions and feed composition.
The following (typical) equilibrated reactions take
place in the reactor:
Toluene + Hydrogen Benzene + Methane
C8 Aromatics + Hydrogen Toluene + Methane

EFFICIENT REACTOR TECHNOLOGY

The HDA technology produces nearly theoretical
benzene yields. Several techniques combine to
minimize side reactions by providing uniform
residence time and high selectivity for dealkylation:
plug flow reactor design with minimum hydrogen-toaromatics ratios, control of first-pass conversion, and
multiple-point hydrogen quench.
Recycling a diphenyl-rich sidestream to the reactor
substantially enhances benzene yield. As diphenyl
production is an equilibrium function of benzene,
diphenyl and hydrogen concentrations; recycling

2 Benzene Diphenyl + Hydrogen

By recycling the diphenyl, its overall production is

minimized to the advantage of increased benzene
production. The reactor effluent is cooled by exchange
with feed followed by cooling water or air and sent to
the Flash Drum where hydrogen-rich gas separates
from the condensed liquid. The gas phase is
compressed and is returned to the reactor as quench
and washed countercurrently with a feed sidestream in
the Vent H2 Absorber for benzene recovery. The
Absorber overhead flows to the hydrogen purification
unit where hydrogen purity is increased to 90% or

Axens Hydrodealkylation Process

Light Ends

Hydrogen Make-up
HDA Reactor

Hydrogen
Purification Unit

H2
Comp.

Benzene Recycle Benzene

Column Column

Stabilizer
H2
Absorber

Purge
Flash Drum

Feed

better so it can be recycled to the reactor.

The Stabilizer removes light ends, mostly methane
and ethane, from the Flash Drum liquid and the
bottoms are sent to the Benzene Column where high
purity Benzene is produced overhead. The bottoms
stream, containing unreacted toluene and heavier
aromatics, is pumped to the Recycle Column. Their
toluene, C8 aromatics and diphenyl are distilled
overhead and recycled to the reactor. A small purge
stream prevents the heavy components from building
up in the process.

C7-C10 Recycle

COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE
Thirty-five plants have been licensed worldwide for
processing a variety of feedstocks including toluene,
mixed aromatics, reformate and pyrolysis gasoline.

ECONOMIC INFORMATION

Operating hours per year

Toluene Feed, MTA
Benzene Product, MTA
Power, kW

8000
120,700
100,000
650

Cooling Water

42.0 barg Steam Production, kg/hr

6

ISBL Investment, 10 USD

208
11.1
8.3
3859
40-45
Jan05-HDA

Flow, m3/Hr
Temperature Differential, oC
Fuel, heat release, million kcal/hr