Patent ID: 7576247

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 alkylation conditions in at least one alkylation zone of at least two alkylation zones including the presence of a catalytically effective amount of said catalyst to provide an alkylation product containing alkylbenzene, dialkylbenzene, and unreacted benzene, wherein said alkylation deactivates said catalyst, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of zeolytes, acidified refractory oxides, and mixtures thereof; b. providing the alkylation product to a first separator and 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 containing alkylbenzene and paraffin; c. separating paraffin from said substantially benzene-free fraction to provide a paraffin-rich fraction and a substantially paraffin-free fraction containing alkylbenzene and dialkylbenzene; d. 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-containing regeneration stream which also contains deactivating components removed from the catalyst; e. providing the spent benzene-containing regeneration stream to a second separator and fractionating at least a portion of the spent benzene-containing regeneration stream by crude distillation of benzene from deactivating components to provide a lower boiling benzene stream containing less than about 1 mass percent hydrocarbons having at least 12 carbon atoms; f. separating the substantially paraffin-free fraction of step (c) to provide an alkylbenzene fraction substantially devoid of dialkylbenzenes and a heavies fraction containing dialkylbenzenes; and g. providing 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 a portion of which is provided from the lower boiling benzene fraction from step (e), to provide a transalkylation product containing alkylbenzene and unreacted benzene; 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 the lower boiling benzene stream from step (e) is used to regenerate the selective sorbent and provide a spent regenerant stream.