Patent ID: 7268267

Claim:
An alkylation process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic, the process comprising: a) passing an aromatic feedstock comprising a feed aromatic, an olefinic feedstock comprising a C 2 -C 4 olefin, and an additional stream comprising an alkylated derivative of the feed aromatic having from one to six more C 2 -C 4 alkyl groups than the feed aromatic, to an alkylation catalyst bed containing a solid catalyst, wherein the solid catalyst comprises a microporous crystalline zeolite having a layered framework of at least AlO 2 and SiO 2 tetrahedral units and a composition on an as-synthesized and anhydrous basis expressed by an empirical formula of: M m n+ R r p+ Al 1-x E x Si y O z where M is at least one exchangeable cation, “m” is the mole ratio of M to (Al+E) and varies from 0 to about 2.0, R is at least one organoammonium cation selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium cations, diquaternary ammonium cations, protonated amines, protonated diamines, protonated alkanoamines and quaternized alkanolammonium cations, “r” is the mole ratio of R to (Al+E) and has a value of about 0.05 to about 5.0, “n” is the weighted average valence of M and has a value of about 1 to about 2, “p” is the weighted average valence of R and has a value of about 1 to about 2, E is an element selected from the group consisting of gallium, iron, boron, chromium, indium and mixtures thereof, “x” is the mole fraction of E and has a value from 0 to about 1.0, “y” is the mole ratio of Si to (Al+E) and varies from about 6.5 to about 35 and “z” is the mole ratio of O to (Al+E) and has a value determined by the equation: z =( m·n+r·p+ 3+4 ·y )/2 and is characterized in that it has the x-ray diffraction pattern having at least the d spacings and intensities set forth in Table A: TABLE A 2-θ d(Å) I/I 0 % 6.40-6.90 13.80-12.80 w-s 6.95-7.42 12.70-11.90 m-s 8.33-9.11 10.60-9.70 w-vs 19.62-20.49 4.52-4.33 m-vs 21.93-22.84 4.05-3.89 m-vs 24.71-25.35 3.60-3.51 w-m 25.73-26.35 3.46-3.38 m-vs b) alkylating the feed aromatic with the C 2 -C 4 olefin in the alkylation catalyst bed in the presence of the solid catalyst at alkylation conditions to form a monoalkylated aromatic, wherein the monoalkylated aromatic has one more C 2 -C 4 alkyl group than the feed aromatic; and c) withdrawing an effluent stream comprising the monoalkylated aromatic from the alkylation catalyst bed.