Patent ID: 8247629

Claim:
A process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic compound in an alkylation reaction zone, said process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first catalytic particulate material which comprises MCM-22 or MCM-49 and an alumina binder, said first catalytic particulate material sized 50-60 mesh and having a ratio of surface area over volume ratio in the range of 241 to 2867 cm −1 , (b) providing said alkylation reaction zone with an alkylatable aromatic compound, an alkylating agent, and said first catalytic particulate material; and (c) contacting said alkylatable aromatic compound and said alkylating agent with said first catalytic particulate material in said alkylation reaction zone maintained under alkylation conditions, to form a product comprised of said monoalkylated aromatic compound and polyalkylated aromatic compound(s); whereby the molar ratio of said polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) over said monoalkylated aromatic compound produced by said first catalytic particulate material is less than the molar ratio of polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) over monoalkylated aromatic compound produced by a second catalytic particulate material and said alkylation reaction zone is operated under the same alkylation conditions, wherein at least 51 wt. % of said second catalytic particulate material having a ratio of surface area over volume between 78 and 79 cm −1 , and wherein said monoalkylated aromatic compound comprises ethylbenzene and said alkylatable aromatic compound comprises benzene and said alkylating agent comprises ethylene, or wherein said monoalkylated aromatic compound comprises cumene and said alkylatable aromatic compound comprises benzene and said alkylating agent comprises propylene.