Process for the alkylation of aromatic compounds or for preparation of monoalkylated aromatic compounds

Abstract: A process is described for preparing monoalkylated aromatic compounds which comprises subjecting an aromatic hydrocarbon to alkylation with an olefin containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, or to transalkylation with a polyalkylaromatic hydrocarbon, in the presence of ERS-10 zeolite.

Description: A process is described for preparing monoalkylated aromatic compounds which comprises subjecting an aromatic hydrocarbon to alkylation with an olefin containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, in the presence of ERS-10 zeolite and under the reaction conditions disclosed in claim 1. Former processes, still widely used in the petrochemical industry, for the production of alkylaromatics, and in particular cumene and ethylbenzene, comprise the use of a catalyst based on phosphoric acid and infusorial earth , in a fixed bed, for cumene and AlCl 3 , in slurry, for ethylbenzene and cumene. With these processes however there are problems relating to environmental impact and safety; in fact, the use of these catalysts is particularly problematical owing to corrosion, the by-production of toxic organic products and the disposal of the exhausted catalysts. The possibility of substituting these catalysts with nonpolluting, non-corrosive and regenerable materials such as for example zeolitic catalysts, has been known for some time. The use of X and Y zeolites for the preparation of cumene was described for the first time in 1965 (Minachev, Kr. M., Isakov, Ya. I., Garanin, V.I., Piguzova, L.I. Bogomov, V.I., and Vitukina, A.S., Neftekhimiya 5 (1965) 676). Subsequently Venuto et al. (Venuto, P.B., Hamilton, L.A., Landis, P.S., and Wise, J.J., J. Catal. 5, (1966) 81) described the alkylation of benzene with light olefins, such as propylene and ethylene, catalyzed by zeolites with a faujasitic structure (X and Y), and therefore with wide pores. These zeolites can be stabilized by exchange with rare earth. U.S. 3.251.897 describes the alkylation of aromatics in liquid phase, catalyzed by porous crystalline alumino-silicates, among which X, Y and mordenite. U.S. 4.292.458 describes the use of ZSM-5 type zeolites, in particular a boralite with an ZSM-5 type structure capable of catalyzing the alkylation of benzene with propylene. This type of zeolitic system however, perhaps owing to the channels which are too small, only allows the production of cumene with rather low selectivities. It can generally be said therefore that zeolites are active in the alkylation of aromatics with olefins, but have different behaviour with respect to the selectivity. The alkylation reaction is in fact accompanied by succesive secondary reactions, such as polyalkylation, and parallel reactions such as the oligomerization of olefins. The oligomers may then in turn alkylate the aromatic giving heavy alkylated products or undergo cracking to give light olefins, different from the main reagent, thus producing, by successive alkylation, other alkylated by-products. Preparations of monoalkylated hydrocarbons by the transalkylation of polyalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons in which zeolites with small, medium and large pores are used, are described for example in U.S. 3.385.906, U.S. 4.169.111 and EP 308097. In particular the transalkylation reaction of polyalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons can be appropriately carried out subsequently to the alkylation step, by operating on the polyalkylated products recovered downstream of the alkylation. The use of zeolitic catalysts for preparing monoalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons by the transalkylation of polyalkylated products in a step subsequent to the alkylation step is described in U.S. 3.385.906, U.S. 4.774.377, U.S. 4.168.111 and EP 308097, where alkylation and transalkylation processes are combined to obtain better yields to monoalkylated aromatics. EP 432.814, EP 439.632, EP 629599 and EP 687500 describe the production of monoalkylated aromatic hydrocarbons from aromatic hydrocarbons by alkylation, transalkylation and a combined alkylation and transalkylation process, catalyzed by beta zeolite. A process has now been found for preparing monoalkylated aromatic compounds which comprises subjecting an aromatic hydrocarbon to alkylation with an olefin containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, or to transalkylation with a polyalkylaromatic hydrocarbon, in the presence of a catalyst containing ERS-10 zeolite, as claimed in claim 1. Better results are obtained with the present invention in terms of selectivity to monoalkylated product; in the alkylation process, in particular, there is a low formation of heavy products (dialkylated products) and n-propylbenzene. ERS-10 zeolite is a porous crystalline material described in EP 796821, having a molar composition of oxides in its calcined and anhydrous form, corresponding to the following formula: m M 2/n O · z X 2 O 3 · YO 2 wherein m is a number between 0.01 and 10, M is H + and/or a cation of an alkaline or earth-alkaline metal with a valence n, z is a number between 0 and 0.02, X represents one or more elements selected from aluminum, iron, gallium, boron, vanadium, arsenic, antimonium, chromium and manganese and Y represents one or more elements selected from silicon, germanium, titanium, zirconium, characterized by the following X-ray diffraction spectrum from powders (recorded by means of a vertical goniometer equipped with an electronic impulse-count system and using CuKα (λ = 1.54178 Å) (154·10 -10 m) containing the main reflections indicated in Table A: d(Å) I/I 0 · 100 d(m)=d(Å) · 10 -10 11.0 + 0.1 vs 6.80 + 0.08 w 5.79 + 0.06 w 4.59 + 0.05 m 4.29 + 0.05 vs 3.96 + 0.04 m 3.69 + 0.03 w 3.41 + 0.03 w 3.33 + 0.03 w 3.26 + 0.02 m 3.07 + 0.02 w 2.68 + 0.01 w 2.57 + 0.01 w 2.51 + 0.01 w 2.38 + 0.01 w 2.31 + 0.01 w 2.28 + 0.01 w 2.11 + 0.01 w 2.03 + 0.01 w 1.94 + 0.01 w wherein d indicates the interplane distance, I/I 0 ·100 represents the relative intensity calculated by measuring the height of the peaks and percentually relating it to the height of the most intense peak, the symbol vs indicates a very strong intensity (60-1.00), s a strong intensity (40-60), m a medium intensity (20-40) and w a weak intensity (0-20). M is preferably selected from sodium, potassium, hydrogen or their mixtures. According to a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention, the ERS-10 zeolite is in acid form i.e. in the form in which the cationic sites M of the zeolite are prevalently occupied by hydrogen ions. It is especially preferable for at least 80% of the cationic sites to be occupied by hydrogen ions. X is preferably aluminum and Y is preferably silicon. The zeolite can be used as such or extruded with suitable binding inorganic oxides to form cylindrical or spherical pellets, or pellets with other forms commonly used. The ligands for example can be aluminas, silicons, silicoaluminas, clays. Alumina is preferably used. The end-catalyst contains from 10 to 90%, preferably from 20 to 80% by weight of ERS-10 zeolite. The aromatic hydrocarbons which can be alkylated according to the present invention are benzene, toluene, xylene and their mixtures. The aromatic hydrocarbon is preferably benzene. The olefins which are used for the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons according to the present invention are olefins containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably ethylene or propylene. The olefins are pure or mixed with C 2 -C 4 paraffins, but are preferably without dienes, acetylenes, sulfurated compounds or compounds containing nitrogen, which could deactivate the catalyst. Reaction products which are preferably prepared with the process of the present invention are ethylbenzene obtained by the reaction of benzene with ethylene and cumene by the reaction of benzene with propylene. The alkylation reaction can be industrially effected in continuous, semicontinuous or batch, and in gaseous phase, liquid phase or mixed phase; in order to keep the temperature within a preferred range and reduce the by-production of aromatic polyalkylated products, the catalyst can be arranged in various layers in the reactor. A quench is effected between one layer and another with inert solvents and/or part of the aromatic and/or part of the olefin. Under suitable conditions, high aromatic/olefin ratios can be obtained on the single layer, without increasing the overall ratio, to the evident advantage of the subsequent separation and recycling of the aromatic. The temperature control can be carried out either by the quenching of reagents and/or inert products, or by intercooling between the layers, for example by the insertion of coolants. The alkylation reaction can be appropriately carried out in two or more reactors in series, intercooled to control the temperature. The feeding of the olefins can be suitably distributed among the various reactors and reactor layers, optionally diluting the olefin itself with an aromatic or inert product to favour the temperature control. The feeding of the olefin is in such a quantity as to obtain a molar ratio [Aromatic]/[Olefin] ranging from 1 to 20, preferably between 2 and 8. The reaction temperature ranges from 100°C to 300°C, preferably between 120°C and 230°C; the pressure ranges from 1,013 to 5,065 Mpa (10 atms to 50 atms), preferably from 2,026 to 4,559 MPa (20 atms to 45 atms); the WHSV space velocity ranges from 0.1 to 200 hours -1 , preferably between 1 and 10 hours -1 . A combination of temperature and pressure conditions is preferably selected so as to guarantee that the alkylation reaction takes place at least partially in liquid phase, and even more preferably substantially in liquid phase. According to a preferred aspect, in order to maximize the production of monoalkylated product in the reaction of aromatics with light olefins, and in particular benzene with ethylene to give ethylbenzene and benzene with propylene to give cumene, the transalkylation activity of the ERS-10 zeolite can be effected in the same reactor in which the alkylation process takes place, where, with a sufficient residence time, the quantity of polyalkylated by-products can be reduced with respect to the monoalkylated product. EXAMPLE 1 (preparation of ERS-10 zeolite) 10.4 g of tetraethylortho silicate are added, under stirring, to a solution consisting of 45 g of demineralized water, 0.204 g of aluminum isopropylate, 0.19 g of sodium hydroxide and 1.71 g of 6-azoniaspiro-(5,5)-undecane hydroxide (Q). These operations are carried out at room temperature. When the hydrolysis is complete, an opalescent solution is obtained, having the following composition expressed as molar ratios: SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 = 100/1 Na + /SiO 2 = 0.095/1 Q/SiO 2 = 0.2/1 H 2 O/SiO 2 = 50/1 OH - /SiO 2 0.295. The solution is then charged into a steel autoclave, situated in an oven and maintained at 170°C, under autogenous pressure, for 14 days. After cooling to room temperature the crystalline product is separated from the mother liquor by filtration, washed with demineralized water and dried in an oven at 120°C for 2 hours. The composition of the crystalline material, determined by elemental chemical analysis, is the following: 67 SiO 2 : 1 Al 2 O 3 : 0.5 Q 2 O : 0.3 Na 2 O : 7 H 2 O The material obtained is a crystalline aluminosilicate having an X-ray diffraction pattern (effected with an vertical goniometer equipped with an electronic impulse-count system using radiation CuKα λ = (1.544178 Å) 1.544·10 -10 m as described in EP 796821, example 1, table 3. The sample is then calcined at 550°C for 5 hours in a stream of air. Chemical analysis shows the following composition: 67 SiO 2 : 1 Al 2 O 3 : 0.3 Na 2 O The X-ray diffraction spectrum from powders relating to this sample in acid form is that indicated in EP 796821, example 1, table 4. The calcined product is subsequently subjected to exchange process in acid form by repeated treatment with a solution of ammonium acetate at 80°C, washing with demineralized water and calcination at 550°C for 5 hours. The sample thus obtained has a residual Na content of less than 100 ppm. EXAMPLE 2 (alkylation test: synthesis of cumene) The catalyst in the form of ERS-10 powder obtained in example 1, is made into tablets, sieved into particles having dimensions of 20-40 mesh and tested in an alkylation process of benzene with propylene to give cumene. 3.0 g of this catalyst are charged into a fixed-bed reactor having a diameter of 1.2 cm and equipped with an internal thermometer container into which the thermocouple for the temperature control is inserted. The reactor is immersed in a heated oil bath to obtain better temperature control. The catalyst is first activated in nitrogen at 180°C to eliminate any residual traces of humidity present therein. The conditions adopted for the alkylation test are: molar ratio benzene/propylene = 7/1 temperature = 150°C pressure = (38 bars) 3,8 MPa WHSV = 1 hour -1 The products are analyzed using a gas chromatograph (Hewlett-Packard 5890 equipped with a FID analyzer) having a PONA capillary column (50 m x 0.21 mm x 0.5 µm). The following table 1 indicates the results of the test: time on stream (hours) 22.5 propylene conversion (%) 99.3 distribution of normalized products with respect to benzene (% weight) oligomers 0.25 cumene 92.64 n-propylbenzene(ppm/cumene) 158 diisopropylbenzenes (DIPBs) 5.88 others 0.92 selectivity (%) (C 9 /C 6 ) 94.82 (C 9 /C 3 ) 89.52 (IPBs/C 3 ) 97.93 wherein: (C 9 /C 6 ) = selectivity to cumene referring to benzene (C 9 /C 3 ) = selectivity to cumene referring to propylene (IPBs/C 3 ) = selectivity to isopropylbenzenes (IPBs) (cumene, diisopropylbenzenes) referring to propylene. EXAMPLE 3 (alkylation test : synthesis of cumene) Example 2 is repeated under the following conditions: molar ratio benzene/propylene 7/1 temperature = 170°C pressure = (38 bars) 3,8 MPa WHSV = 1 hour -1 Table 2 below indicates the results of the test: time on stream (hours) 22.5 propylene conversion (%) 99.5 distribution of normalized products with respect to benzene (% weight) oligomers 0.23 cumene 88.34 n-propylbenzene(ppm/cumene) 265 diisopropylbenzenes (DIPBs) 10.45 others 0.77 selectivity (%) (C 9 /C 6 ) 91.37 (C 9 /C 3 ) 83.71 (IPBs/C 3 ) 98.68 EXAMPLE 4 Example 2 is repeated under the following conditions: molar ratio benzene/propylene = 7/1 temperature = 185°C pressure = (38 bars) 3,8 MPa WHSV = 1 hour -1 Table 3 below indicates the results of the test: time on stream (hours) 87.5 propylene conversion (%) 99.5 distribution of normalized products with respect to benzene (% weight) oligomers 0.21 cumene 86.61 n-propylbenzene (ppm/cumene) 360 diisopropylbenzenes (DIPBs) 12.3 others 0.68 selectivity (%) (C 9 /C 6 ) 89.98 (C 9 /C 3 ) 81.43 (IPBs/C 3 ) 98.56 EXAMPLE 5 (comparative) Example 2 is repeated using as catalyst a USY zeolite (330 HUA of Tosoh Corporation) under the following conditions: catalyst charged = 3.0 g molar ratio benzene/propylene = 7/1 temperature = 150°C pressure = (38 bars) 3,8 MPa WHSV = 1 hour -1 Table 4 below indicates the results of the test: propylene conversion (%) 98.1 distribution of normalized products with respect to benzene (% weight) oligomers 0.33 cumene 73.05 n-propylbenzene (ppm/cumene) 170 diisopropylbenzenes (DIPBs) 21.88 others 4.51 selectivity (%) (C 9 /C 6 ) 79.36 (C 9 /C 3 ) 63.69 (IPBs/C 3 ) 91.93 Comparing these results to those obtained, under the same operating conditions, in example 2, it can be observed that the ERS-10 zeolite has a much higher selectivity to cumene than the Y zeolite, with respect to both benzene and propylene. It should also be noted that in both example 2 and comparative example 5 the propylene conversion is total and as far as the production of isopropylbenzenes (IPBs) is concerned, the values obtained with the ERS-10 zeolite are much higher than those obtained with the Y zeolite. EXAMPLE 6 (comparative) Example 2 is repeated using as catalyst a CBV40 mordenite (PQ Corporation) under the following conditions: catalyst charged = 3.0 g molar ratio benzene/propylene = 7/1 temperature = 150°C pressure = (38 bars) 3,8 MPa WHSV = 1 hour -1 Table 5 below indicates the results of the test: propylene conversion (%) 99.8 distribution of normalized products with respect to benzene (% weight) oligomers 0.31 cumene 89.1 n-propylbenzene(ppm/cumene) 163 diisopropylbenzenes (DIPBs) 10.58 others 0.33 selectivity (%) (C 9 /C 6 ) 91.85 (C 9 /C 3 ) 84.25 (IPBs/C 3 ) 99.05 Comparing these results to those obtained, under the same operating conditions, in example 2, it can be observed that the ERS-10 zeolite has a much higher selectivity to cumene than mordenite, with respect to both benzene and propylene. Also in this case, it should be noted that in both example 2 and comparative example 6 the propylene conversion is total and as far as the production of isopropylbenzenes (IPBs) is concerned, the values obtained with ERS-10 zeolite are much higher than those obtained with mordenite. It can therefore be asserted in general that ERS-10 zeolite gives rise to a higher production of cumene and a lower formation of by-products such as diisopropylbenzenes, oligomers and n-propylbenzene.

Claims: A process for the alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons which comprises putting the aromatic hydrocarbon in contact with an olefin containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms in the presence of a catalyst comprising ERS-10 zeolite, said process being carried out at a temperature ranging of form 100 to 300°C, at a pressure of from 1.013 MPa to 5.065 MPa (10 to 50 atm), at a WHSV space velocity ranging of from 0.1 to 200 hours -1 and with a molar ratio [Aromatic]/[Olefin] ranging of from 1 to 20,said aromatic hydrocarbon being selected from benzene, toluene, xylene or their mixtures. The process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature is between 120 and 230°C, the pressure is between 2,026 MPa to 4,559 MPa (20 and 45 atms), the WHSV space velocity is between 1 and 10 hours -1 and the molar ratio between aromatic and olefin is between 2 and 8. The process according to claims 1 to 2, which comprises putting the aromatic hydrocarbon in contact with an olefin under liquid phase or mixed phase conditions. The process according to claim 3, which comprises putting the aromatic hydrocarbon in contact with an olefin under liquid phase conditions. The process according to claim 1, wherein the cationic sites in the ERS-10 zeolite are occupied by hydrogen ions. The process according to claim 5, wherein at least 80% of the cationic sites is occupied by hydrogen ions. The process according to claim 1, wherein the ERS-10 zeolite is based on aluminum and silicon oxides. The process according to claim 1, wherein the ERS-10 zeolite is combined with an inorganic oxide as ligand. The process according to claim 8, wherein the inorganic oxide is alumina. The process according to claim 8, wherein the ERS-10 zeolite is in a quantity ranging from 20 to 80% by weight. The process according to claim 1, wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon is benzene. The process according to claim 1, wherein the olefin is selected from ethylene and propylene. The process according to claim 1, wherein the olefin is added in at least two steps. The process according to claim 1, wherein two or more catalytic beds or reactors in series are used.

Inventors: AMARILLI STEFANO, BELLUSSI GIUSEPPE, CARLUCCIO LUCIANO, PEREGO CARLO, AMARILLI, STEFANO, BELLUSSI, GIUSEPPE, CARLUCCIO, LUCIANO, PEREGO, CARLO
Applicants: ENITECNOLOGIE SPA, POLIMERI EUROPA SPA, ENITECNOLOGIE S.P.A., POLIMERI EUROPA S.P.A.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: C07C2
IPC codes: B01J29, C07C2, C07C15, C07C6