Patent ID: 7268264
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for the production of ethylbenzene comprising: (a) supplying an aromatic feedstock having a benzene content of at least 95 wt. % into an alkylation reaction zone and into contact with a zeolite beta alkylation catalyst having a crystalline structure and a silica/alumina ratio within the range of 20-500; wherein said zeolite beta comprises a lanthanum-modified zeolite beta having a lanthanum content of 0.25-5 wt. % (b) supplying ethylene to said reaction zone in an amount to provide a benzene/ethylene mole ratio within the range of 1-15; (c) operating said alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which benzene is in the supercritical phase to cause ethylation of said benzene in the presence of said alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylation product containing benzene, ethylbenzene, and polyalkylated aromatic by-products; (d) recovering said alkylation product from said reaction zone and supplying said product to a recovery zone for the separation and recovery of ethylbenzene from the alkylated product and the separation and recovery of a polyalkylated aromatic component including diethylbenzene; (e) supplying at least a portion of the polyalkylated aromatic component including diethylbenzene to a transalkylation reactor and supplying benzene to the transalkylation reactor; and (f) using a zeolite-Y catalyst in the transalkylation reactor and operating the transalkylation reactor under temperature and pressure conditions effective to maintain the benzene and the polyalkylated aromatics in liquid phase conditions to cause disproportionation of the polyalkylated aromatics to produce a disproportionation product having a reduced diethylbenzene and an enhanced ethylbenzene content.