Patent ID: 8481794
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: B01J,C07C

Abstract:
1. A method for producing ethylbenzene using an alkylator apparatus that comprises at least one group of adjacent thermally-insulated catalyst beds, each of the at least one group of adjacent thermally-insulated catalyst beds including a cold bed and a hot bed, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a benzene stream and a plurality of ethylene streams to the alkylator apparatus at a predetermined benzene to ethylene ratio of about 3 or less; combining the benzene stream with a first ethylene stream of the plurality of ethylene streams to form a first feed mixture; contacting the first feed mixture with UZM-8 zeolite-based catalyst in a first cold bed at conditions effective to form a first intermediate outlet stream comprising ethylbenzene and benzene, wherein the first feed mixture is introduced into the first cold bed at a first predetermined inlet temperature of from about 160 to about 190° C.; combining the first intermediate outlet stream with a second ethylene stream of the plurality of ethylene streams to form a second intermediate feed mixture; and contacting the second intermediate feed mixture with beta zeolite-based catalyst in a first hot bed at conditions effective to form ethylbenzene, wherein the second intermediate feed mixture is introduced into the first hot bed at a second predetermined inlet temperature of from about 190 to about 230° C., wherein the first predetermined inlet temperature is below the second predetermined inlet temperature.