
Toluene selective alkylation with methanol (EMTAM℠)
The EMTAM℠ process is a breakthrough technology that maximizes production of valuable paraxylene product while lowering feed and energy costs. The highly paraxylene selective process is built off of commercially proven technologies. Unlike other toluene conversion processes, there is no benzene co-product and no hydrogen co-feed. It is the only process that can tune the methyl to ring ratio based on market conditions and allows unlimited benzene co-feeding to produce paraxylene.
Key benefits
The EMTAM process

Tested and proven technology:
Fluidized bed process derived from FCC technology
- Based on 75+ years of ExxonMobil experience with FCC process
- Process conditions very similar to FCC (pressure, temperature, fluid solids circulation)
- Peripherals identical to FCC (stripper, cyclones, cat cooler, slide valves, transfer lines)
Demonstrated performance
- 10+ years pilot plant operation
- ~1 full year of 8 Bbl/day Process
- Demonstration Unit operation
- Commercially produced catalyst
Reliable design
- Reviewed and approved by 4 world-class engineering companies
- World-scale unit design complete
- Multiple world-class fabricators qualified by ExxonMobil to construct vessel and internals
Highly selective to PX, lower feed and energy costs, stable and consistent yields
Maximizing aromatic rings to paraxylene:
Life cycle support
- Initial discussions to confirm client objectives and tailor the solution
- Detailed yield estimate
- Feasibility study
- Commercial proposal
- Process design package
- Technology transfer, training, catalyst loading and startup support
- Technology improvement
- Performance monitoring and technical assistance throughout the life of the catalyst
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