Single-step catalytic process for the production of alkylated aromatics using co2

A catalytic process for production of alkylated aromatics using CO2 and methylcyclohexane, wherein CO2 is a carbon source and an alkylation reagent, and methylcyclohexane is a hydrogen atom donor and a source of toluene, the catalytic process comprising:

• preparing a metal functionalized zeolite (HZSM-5) based catalyst;
• loading the metal functionalized zeolite (HZSM-5) based catalyst into a fixed-bed micro-reactor followed by reducing the metal functionalized zeolite (HZSM-5) based catalyst under a continuous flow of H2 gas at a temperature in a range of 450 to 500° C. for a period in a range of 5 to 6 h to obtain a reduced catalyst;
• passing methylcyclohexane and a mixture of CO2 and N2 (CO2/N2=1/3 vol/vol) over the reduced catalyst, wherein methylcyclohexane is passed at a flow rate of 2-3 WHSV (weight hourly space velocity) at a reaction temperature ranging between 300 to 400° C. and a pressure ranging between 20-30 bar to produce toluene and H2;
• reacting CO2 with H2 in presence of the reduced catalyst to produce an active alkylating species through hydrogenation of CO2;
• and
• reacting toluene with the alkylating species in presence of the reduced catalyst for alkylating toluene to produce aromatic hydrocarbons, and alkylated aromatics.