Patent ID: 7777087

Claim:
A process for producing an alkylaromatic compound, the process comprising: (a) introducing a first feed comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound, and a second feed comprising an alkene into a first alkylation reaction zone comprising a first alkylation catalyst having a first amount of acid sites per unit mass of the first catalyst, said first alkylation catalyst is zeolite beta or zeolite Y; (b) operating said first alkylation reaction zone under conditions effective to cause alkylation of said alkylatable aromatic compound by said alkene, to produce said alkylaromatic compound, said conditions being such that said alkylatable aromatic compound is at least partly in the liquid phase; (c) withdrawing from said first alkylation reaction zone a first effluent comprising said alkylaromatic compound and unreacted alkylatable aromatic compound; (d) introducing at least part of said first effluent and a third feed comprising said alkene into a second alkylation reaction zone comprising a second alkylation catalyst having a second amount of acid sites per unit mass of the second catalyst, said second alkylation is a molecular sieve having MWW topology; and wherein the first alkylation catalyst has a greater number of acid sites per unit mass than the second alkylation catalyst whereby the frequency at which the first alkylation catalyst is removed for replacement, regeneration or reactivation is reduced as compared to the first alkylation catalyst alone; (e) operating said second alkylation reaction zone under conditions effective to cause alkylation of said unreacted alkylatable aromatic compound by said alkene to produce said alkylaromatic compound, said conditions being such that said alkylatable aromatic compound is at least partly in the liquid phase; and (f) withdrawing from said second alkylation reaction zone a second effluent comprising said alkylaromatic compound.