2,6-dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) is a precursor to a polyester with enhanced properties, e.g. polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). The drawbacks of the PEN production are the maximum yield and separation of 2,6-DMN raw material production. Only 48% of 2,6-DMN can be produced from the isomerization of 1,5- to 2,6-DMN due to the thermodynamics limitation. Moreover, the purification of 2,6-DMN from the isomeric mixture using conventional techniques is extremely difficult. To improve the PEN production process, we proposed to combine the reaction and separation into one single unit of operation aiming to reduce the process complexity and shift the 2,6-DMN composition beyond the equilibrium composition. Recently, it has been revealed that using toluene as a reactive media can lower the isomerization temperature, and then minimize side reactions. Also, toluene is a suitable desorbent for the adsorptive separation of 2,6-DMN. To explore other solvent systems, three solvents, ethylbenzene, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene and 1,4-diethylbenzene, are selected for the study of the solvent effects on the isomerization of 1,5-DMN to 2,6-DMN and their adsorption over FAU adsorbents. Preliminary isomerization and adsorption results, together with experiments in combining the reaction and adsorption are encouraging and will be assessed and discussed.