Patent ID: 6525233
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for preparing a modified alkylaryl comprising the steps of:(a)(1) providing a hydrocarbon feed selected from the group consisting of olefinic feeds, paraffinic feeds and mixtures thereof, said hydrocarbon feed comprising branched aliphatic hydrocarbons having from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms: (a)(2) separating said hydrocarbon feed into: i. at least one branched-enriched stream comprising an increased proportion of branched acyclic hydrocarbons relative to said hydrocarbon feed; and ii. optionally, one or more of the following streams: a. a linear-enriched stream comprising an increased proportion of linear aliphatic hydrocarbons relative to said hydrocarbon feed; and b. a reject stream comprising cyclic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons; wherein the step of separating comprises a step selected from the group consisting of: adsorptive separation using porous media; clathration using a clathrating compound selected from urea, thiourea, alternative clathrating amides and mixtures thereof; and mixtures thereof; wherein said step of separating comprises a simulated moving bed adsorptive means comprising: at least one bed holding said porous media and/or clathrating compound; and a device for simulating motion of said porous media and/or clathrating compound countercurrent to a hydrocarbon stream in said at least one bed; (b) when said hydrocarbon feed comprises less than about 5% of olefins, at least partially dehydrogenating the said at least one branched-enriched stream; and (c) reacting said at least one branched-enriched stream produced from step (a)(2) and/or said dehydrogenated branched-enriched stream from step (b), with an aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of: benzene, toluene and mixtures thereof, in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce a modified alkylaryl.