Patent ID: 7189885

Claim:
A process for producing linear alkylbenzenes, the process comprising: a) contacting benzene and an olefinic feedstock comprising a linear monoolefin having from about 8 to about 28 carbon atoms and having a concentration of coboiling aromatics of less than 2 wt-%, with a first catalyst comprising mordenite operating at first reaction conditions sufficient to alkylate benzene with the monoolefin and form linear phenyl-alkanes, wherein the first catalyst has a fluoride content of less than 0.05 wt-% based on the weight of the mordenite in the first catalyst, and recovering from the first reaction zone a first reaction product comprising linear phenyl-alkanes; and b) contacting at least a portion of the first reaction product with a second catalyst comprising silica-alumina operating at second reaction conditions sufficient to alkylate benzene with monoolefin, and recovering from the process a second reaction product comprising linear phenyl-alkanes, wherein the linear phenyl-alkanes in the second reaction product comprise linear 2-phenyl-alkanes and wherein the second reaction product has a concentration of linear 2-phenyl-alkanes of from about 25 to about 80 wt-% based on the linear phenyl-alkanes in the second reaction product.