Processes and Apparatus for Making Detergent Range Alkylbenzenes Using Transalkylation
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsStephen W. Sohn, Mark G. Riley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Dialkylbenzenes are transalkylated in the presence of benzene and solid catalyst. The transalkylation product is subjected to distillation to provide a lower-boiling, benzene-containing fraction which is fed to a transalkylation reactor as at least a portion of the benzene. Thus, high benzene to dialkylbenzene molar ratios can be economically maintained in order to enhance catalyst stability.
Claims11
A continuous, integrated processes for preparing linear alkylbenzenes by the alkylation of benzene with olefin having between about 8 and 16 carbon atoms comprising:
- a. continuously supplying benzene and a mixture of said olefin to at least one alkylation zone at alkylation conditions including the presence of a catalytically effective amount of alkylation catalyst to provide an alkylation product containing alkylbenzene, dialkylbenzenes and unreacted benzene;
- 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 containing 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. providing benzene and at least a portion of the heavies fraction to at least one transalkylation zone wherein the molar ratio of benzene to dialkylbenzene is at least about 20:1, preferably between about 30:1 to 60:1;
- f. maintaining said at least one transalkylation zone at transalkylation conditions comprising a catalytically effective amount of solid transalkylation catalyst to provide a transalkylation product in which at least about 20 mole percent of the dialkylbenzene in the portion of the feedstock provided to said reaction zone is converted to alkylbenzene;
- g. subjecting at least a portion of the transalkylation product to fractionation conditions to provide a lower boiling, benzene-rich fraction and a higher-boiling, alkyl substituted benzene-containing fraction;
- h. passing at least a portion of the benzene-rich fraction to at least one transalkylation zone as at least a portion of the benzene to said reaction zone;
- and
- i. passing at least a portion of the higher-boiling fraction of step (g) to step (b).
An apparatus for the transalkylation of dialkylbenzene having alkyl substituent of between 8 and 16 carbon atoms comprising:
- a. at least one transalkylation reactor containing solid transalkylation catalyst, said reactor being in fluid communication with a source of benzene and being in fluid communication with a source of feedstock comprising dialkylbenzene, each said reactor having at least one product exit port;
- and
- b. a distillation column containing less than about 5 theoretical distillation plates in fluid communication with at least one exit port of at least one transalkylation catalyst, said distillation column being adapted to provide a lower boiling fraction comprising benzene at an upper port and a higher boiling fraction comprising alkylbenzene at a lower port,
- in which the upper port of said distillation column is in fluid communication with at least one transalkylation reactor and adapted to provide benzene thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.