Abstract: A process for producing ethylbenzene is described in which benzene and ethylene are supplied to an alkylation reaction zone. Also added to the alkylation reaction zone is a C3+ olefin in an amount of at least 200 ppm by weight of the ethylene supplied to the alkylation reaction zone. The benzene, ethylene and C3+ olefin are contacted with an alkylation catalyst in the alkylation reaction zone to alkylate at least part of the benzene and produce an alkylation effluent comprising ethylbenzene, polyethylated benzene and at least one mono-C3+ alkyl benzene. The alkylation effluent is separated into a first product fraction comprising ethylbenzene and a second fraction comprising polyethylated benzene and the at least one mono-C3+ alkyl benzene. The second fraction is then contacted with benzene in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst to convert at least part of the polyethylated benzene to ethylbenzene and produce a transalkylation effluent.

Abstract: In a process for alkylating an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock with an olefin feedstock, at least one of the aromatic hydrocarbon and olefin feedstocks is passed through a pretreatment unit containing an adsorbent such that the adsorbent removes impurities contained by the feedstock. Passage of the at least one feedstock through the pretreatment unit is then terminated and a heated inert gas is passed through the pretreatment unit such that the inert gas desorbs impurities from the adsorbent to produce an inert gas effluent stream containing the desorbed impurities. A condensable fluid is added to at least part of the inert gas effluent stream such that at least a portion of the impurities contained therein condense with said fluid to leave a purified inert gas stream, which is recycled to the pretreatment unit.

Abstract: A process for producing ethylbenzene is described in which benzene and ethylene are supplied to an alkylation reaction zone. Also added to the alkylation reaction zone is a C3+ olefin in an amount of at least 200 ppm by weight of the ethylene supplied to the alkylation reaction zone. The benzene, ethylene and C3+ olefin are contacted with an alkylation catalyst in the alkylation reaction zone to alkylate at least part of the benzene and produce an alkylation effluent comprising ethylbenzene, polyethylated benzene and at least one mono-C3+ alkyl benzene. The alkylation effluent is separated into a first product fraction comprising ethylbenzene and a second fraction comprising polyethylated benzene and the at least one mono-C3+ alkyl benzene. The second fraction is then contacted with benzene in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst to convert at least part of the polyethylated benzene to ethylbenzene and produce a transalkylation effluent.

Abstract: In a process for producing styrene, benzene is alkylated with ethylene to produce ethylbenzene and at least some of the ethylbenzene is dehydrogenated to produce styrene, together with benzene and toluene as by-products. At least part of the benzene by-product is passed through a bed of an adsorbent comprising at least one of an acidic clay, alumina, an acidic ion exchange resin and an acidic molecular sieve to remove basic nitrogenous impurities therefrom and produce a purified benzene by-product, which is then recycled to the alkylation step.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylated aromatic product in a reactor by reacting an alkylatable aromatic compound feedstock with another feedstock comprising alkene component and alkane component in a reaction zone containing an alkylation catalyst. The reaction zone is operated in predominantly liquid phase without inter-zone alkane removal. The polyalkylated aromatic compounds can be separated as feed stream for transalkylation reaction in a transalkylation reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for the catalytic conversion of a feedstock comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and an alkylating agent to form a conversion product comprising the desired alkylaromatic compound by contacting said feedstock in at least partial liquid phase under catalytic conversion conditions with a catalyst composition comprising a porous crystalline material having a structure type of FAU, BEA* or MWW, or a mixture thereof, wherein the porous crystalline material has a Relative Activity measured at 220° C. as an RA220 of at least 7.5 or measured at 180° C. as RA180 of at least 2.5, allowing operation at lower reaction pressures, e.g., a reaction pressure of about 450 psig (3102 kPa) or less, and lower alkylating agent feed supply pressure of 450 psig (3102 kPa) or less.

Abstract: In a process for producing styrene, benzene is alkylated with ethylene to produce ethylbenzene and at least some of the ethylbenzene is dehydrogenated to produce styrene, together with benzene and toluene as by-products. At least part of the benzene by-product is passed through a bed of an adsorbent comprising at least one of an acidic clay, alumina, an acidic ion exchange resin and an acidic molecular sieve to remove basic nitrogenous impurities therefrom and produce a purified benzene by-product, which is then recycled to the alkylation step.

Abstract: In a process for alkylating an aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock with an olefin feedstock, at least one of the aromatic hydrocarbon and olefin feedstocks is passed through a pretreatment unit containing an adsorbent such that the adsorbent removes impurities contained by the feedstock. Passage of the at least one feedstock through the pretreatment unit is then terminated and a heated inert gas is passed through the pretreatment unit such that the inert gas desorbs impurities from the adsorbent to produce an inert gas effluent stream containing the desorbed impurities. A condensable fluid is added to at least part of the inert gas effluent stream such that at least a portion of the impurities contained therein condense with said fluid to leave a purified inert gas stream, which is recycled to the pretreatment unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of alkylated aromatics by contacting a feed stream comprising an alkylatable aromatic, an alkylating agent and trace amounts of water and impurities in the presence of a first catalyst and an alkylation catalyst wherein such water and impurities are removed in order to improve the cycle length of such alkylation catalysts. Water and at least a portion of impurities are removed in a dehydration zone. A reaction zone having a first catalyst which, in some embodiments is a large pore molecular sieve, acts to remove another portion of impurities, such as nitrogenous and other species. An alkylation zone having an alkylation catalyst which, in some embodiments is a medium pore molecular sieve or a MCM-22 family material, acts to remove additional impurities, and to alkylate the alkylatable aromatic compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of alkylated aromatics by contacting a feed stream comprising an alkylatable aromatic, an alkylating agent and trace amounts of water and impurities in the presence of a first catalyst and an alkylation catalyst wherein such water and impurities are removed in order to improve the cycle length of such alkylation catalysts. Water and at least a portion of impurities are removed in a dehydration zone. A reaction zone having a first catalyst which, in some embodiments is a large pore molecular sieve, acts to remove another portion of impurities, such as nitrogenous and other species. An alkylation zone having an alkylation catalyst which, in some embodiments is a medium pore molecular sieve or a MCM-22 family material, acts to remove additional impurities, and to alkylate the alkylatable aromatic compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of alkylated aromatics by contacting a feed stream comprising an alkylatable aromatic, an alkylating agent and trace amounts of water and impurities in the presence of first and second alkylation catalysts wherein the water and impurities are removed in order to improve the cycle length of such alkylation catalysts. Water and a portion of impurities are removed in a dehydration zone. A first alkylation zone having a first alkylation catalyst which, in some embodiments is a large pore molecular sieve, acts to remove a larger portion of impurities, such as nitrogenous and other species, and to alkylate a smaller portion of the alkylatable aromatic compound. A second alkylation zone, which in some embodiments is a medium pore molecular sieve, acts to remove a smaller portion of impurities, and to alkylate a larger portion of the alkylatable aromatic compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for the catalytic conversion of a feedstock comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and an alkylating agent to form a conversion product comprising the desired alkylaromatic compound by contacting said feedstock in at least partial liquid phase under catalytic conversion conditions with a catalyst composition comprising a porous crystalline material having a structure type of FAU, BEA* or MWW, or a mixture thereof, wherein the porous crystalline material has a Relative Activity measured at 220° C. as an RA220 of at least 7.5 or measured at 180° C. as RA180 of at least 2.5, allowing operation at lower reaction pressures, e.g., a reaction pressure of about 450 psig (3102 kPa) or less, and lower alkylating agent feed supply pressure of 450 psig (3102 kPa) or less.

Abstract: A process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic product in a reactor by reacting a mixed phase mixture of an alkylatable aromatic compound feedstock with another feedstock comprising alkene component in a reaction zone containing an alkylation catalyst. An effluent comprising the monoalkylated aromatic product and polyalkylated aromatic compounds exits from the reaction zone in liquid phase. The polyalkylated aromatic compounds can be separated as feed stream for transalkylation reaction in a transalkylation reaction zone.

Abstract: Disclosed are ethylbenzene processes in which a series-arranged or combined vapor phase alkylation/transalkylation reaction zone is retrofitted to have a vapor phase alkylation reactor and a liquid phase transalkylation reactor, and in which a parallel-arranged vapor phase alkylation reactor and vapor phase transalkylation reactor is retrofitted to have a vapor phase alkylation reactor and liquid phase transalkylation reactor, wherein the xylenes content of the ethylbenzene product is less than 700 wppm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of alkylated aromatics by contacting a feed stream comprising an alkylatable aromatic, an alkylating agent and trace amounts of water and impurities in the presence of first and second alkylation catalysts wherein the water and impurities are removed in order to improve the cycle length of such alkylation catalysts. Water and a portion of impurities are removed in a dehydration zone. A first alkylation zone having a first alkylation catalyst which, in some embodiments is a large pore molecular sieve, acts to remove a larger portion of impurities, such as nitrogenous and other species, and to alkylate a smaller portion of the alkylatable aromatic compound. A second alkylation zone, which in some embodiments is a medium pore molecular sieve, acts to remove a smaller portion of impurities, and to alkylate a larger portion of the alkylatable aromatic compound.

Abstract: Disclosed are ethylbenzene processes in which a series-arranged or combined vapor phase alkylation/transalkylation reaction zone is retrofitted to have a vapor phase alkylation reactor and a liquid phase transalkylation reactor, and in which a parallel-arranged vapor phase alkylation reactor and vapor phase transalkylation reactor is retrofitted to have a vapor phase alkylation reactor and liquid phase transalkylation reactor, wherein the xylenes content of the ethylbenzene product is less than 700 wppm.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylated aromatic product in a reactor by reacting an alkylatable aromatic compound feedstock with another feedstock comprising alkene component and alkane component in a reaction zone containing an alkylation catalyst. The reaction zone is operated in predominantly liquid phase without inter-zone alkane removal. The polyalkylated aromatic compounds can be separated as feed stream for transalkylation reaction in a transalkylation reaction zone.

Abstract: Disclosed are ethylbenzene processes in which a series-arranged or combined vapor phase alkylation/transalkylation reaction zone is retrofitted to have a vapor phase alkylation reactor and a liquid phase transalkylation reactor, and in which a parallel-arranged vapor phase alkylation reactor and vapor phase transalkylation reactor is retrofitted to have a vapor phase alkylation reactor and liquid phase transalkylation reactor, wherein the xylenes content of the ethylbenzene product is less than 700 wppm.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkylated aromatic product in a reactor by reacting an alkylatable aromatic compound feedstock with another feedstock comprising alkene component and alkane component in a reaction zone containing an alkylation catalyst. The reaction zone is operated in predominantly liquid phase without inter-zone alkane removal. The polyalkylated aromatic compounds can be separated as feed stream for transalkylation reaction in a transalkylation reaction zone.

Abstract: A process is described for producing an alkylaromatic compound in a multistage reaction system comprising at least first and second series-connected alkylation reaction zones each containing an alkylation catalyst. A first feed comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and a second feed comprising an alkene and one or more alkanes are introduced into said first alkylation reaction zone, having operating conditions, e.g., temperature and pressure, which are controlled effective to cause the alkylatable aromatic compound to be partly in the vapor phase and partly in the liquid phase with the ratio of liquid volume to vapor volume of the feed in each zone to be from about 0.5 to about 10.