Patent ID: 7652182

Claim:
A continuous, integrated process for preparing linear alkylbenzenes by the alkylation of benzene with olefin having between about 8 and 16 carbon atoms, said olefin being contained in admixture with paraffin, in the presence of regenerable, solid, acid alkylation catalyst comprising: a. continuously supplying benzene and a mixture of said olefin and paraffin to at least one alkylation zone of at least two alkylation zones wherein the olefins comprise unbranched and lightly branched olefins, said alkylation zone being at alkylation conditions including the presence of a catalytically effective amount of said catalyst to provide an alkylation product containing alkylbenzene, dialkylbenzenes and unreacted benzene, wherein said alkylation deactivates said catalyst, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of zeolites selected from the group consisting of beta, mordenite, ZSM-4, ZSM-12, ZSM-20, ZSM-38, MCM-22, MCM-36, MCM-49, UZM-8, offretite, gmelinite, zeolite Y, NU-87, and gottardite, acidic or acidified refractory oxides selected from the group consisting of chiorided, fluorided, or sulfated alumina, gallia, boria, molybdia, ytterbia, titania, chromia, silica, zirconia, and mixtures thereof; b. separating benzene from the alkylation product to provide a benzene-rich fraction, at least a portion of which is recycled to step (a) and a substantially benzene-free fraction, said fraction containning alkylbenzene, paraffin and dialkylbenzene; c. separating paraffin from said substantially benzene-free fraction to provide a paraffin-rich fraction and a substantially paraffin-free fraction containing alkylbenzene and dialkylbenzenes; d. separating alkylbenzene from said paraffin-free fraction to provide an alkylbenzene fraction and a heavies fraction containing dialkylbenzenes; e. periodically regenerating said catalyst in at least one of said alkylation zones by continuously passing through said zone benzene under regeneration conditions to provide a spent benzene stream containing deactivating components; f. subjecting at least a portion of the heavies fraction to transalkylation conditions comprising the presence of a catalytically effective amount of solid transalkylation catalyst and benzene, at least 50 mass percent of which is derived from the spent benzene-containing stream comprising benzene and heavies, to provide a transalkylation product containing alkylbenzene and unreacted benzene; and g. passing the transalkylation product to step (b); wherein the mixture of olefin and paraffin of step (a) is derived from the dehydrogenation of paraffin and a selective sorbent is used to remove aromatic compounds from the olefin and paraffin mixture prior to step (a) and at least a portion of spent benzene stream after being treated to remove deactivating components is used to regenerate the selective sorbent and provide a spent regenerant stream.