Abstract: The commercial test of ethylbenzene conversion type C₈ aromatics isomerization catalyst RIC-300 developed by SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing Co., Ltd. was introduced. The performance of catalyst RIC-300 for the feedstock with high content of ethylbenzene was analyzed based on its first commercial application test in an aromatics plant. The results showed that the activity of catalyst RIC-300 was over 23.4% (p-xylene/xylene), the conversion rate of ethylbenzene was over 39.8%, and the loss rate of C₈ aromatics was 1.9% under mild conditions. Under the harsh operating conditions of high load and high conversion, the rate of raising temperature and pressure was low.The catalyst RIC-300 had the characteristics of high activity,high selectivity and good stability.

Key words: C₈ aromatics, isomerization, catalyst, ethylbenzene, para-xylene