Adsorbent for P-Xylene Separation

Background

PX belongs to a kind of C8 mixed aromatics, which has 4 isomers, namely OX (ortho-xylene), MX (meta-xylene), PX (para-xylene), and EB (ethylbenzene). Limited by the thermodynamic balance, the OX content takes a large portion of C8 mixed aromatics at 41%-45%, while the PX content, which has the largest industrial demand, takes only about 20%. Many world-scale projects are being configured to produce maximum volumes of chemicals. In order to maximize the production of PX, technologies such as toluene disproportionation, trans-alkylation, and isomerization are usually used in industry to increase the production of PX.

In modern daily life, PX derivatives are everywhere. The polyester and polyester fiber in clothes are the downstream products of PX. The telephones, mobile phone cases, mineral water bottles, computer shells, capsules, curtains, and cameras around us are all related to PX. The economic and social development of modern society is inseparable from PX. The production and processing of PX for food, clothing, housing, and transportation together build a “golden industrial chain”.