A process for co-producing para-xylene and styrene from a feed (1) of
hydrocarbons containing xylenes and ethylbenzene is described, the
process comprising the following succession of steps: a step for
separating the feed in a simulated moving bed in an adsorption column (6)
containing beds of an adsorbent, from which an extract that is rich in
para-xylene (7a) of at least 99.7% purity and at least one raffinate (7b)
containing ethylbenzene, ortho-xylene, meta-xylene and a very small
quantity of para-xylene is withdrawn; a step for dehydrogenating (10) the
ethylbenzene contained in the raffinate (7b) to styrene; at least one
step for primary separation of the stream (11) from the dehydrogenation
step (10), to eliminate by-products; a step for separating the purified
mixture (18) derived from the stream (11) containing styrene, unconverted
ethylbenzene, meta-xylene and ortho-xylene, from which a stream (21a)
that is rich in styrene of at least 99.8% purity and a stream (21b)
containing unconverted ethylbenzene, meta-xylene and ortho-xylene is
withdrawn; and a step for isomerising the stream (21b), the effluent
being recycled to the adsorption column (6).