Liquid-phase alkylation and transalkylation process

A process for producing isopropylbenzene which comprises:

• (A) contacting at least a mole-excess of benzene with propylene under reaction conditions including the presence of a liquid phase in an alkylation reaction zone with an alkylation catalyst comprising a composite of a steam-stabilized hydrogen Y aluminosilicate zeolite and a mineral oxide binder, said steam-stabilized hydrogen Y aluminosilicate zeolite containing less than 0.7 weight percent of Na.sub.2 O and having a unit cell size from 24.00 .ANG. to about 24.64 .ANG.;
• (B) separating the product from step (A) into fractions comprising (1) a benzene fraction, (2) a substantially pure isopropylbenzene fraction, and (3) a poly-isopropylbenzene fraction;
• (C) recovering the isopropylbenzene fraction;
• (D) recycling a portion of the benzene in step (B) to the alkylation zone;
• and
• (E) recycling a portion of the benzene and polyisopropylbenzene to transalkylation in a transalkylation zone under reaction conditions including the presence of a liquid phase in contact with a transalkylation catalyst comprising the composite defined in step (A), wherein the transalkylation catalyst comprises from about 25 to about 90 weight percent less than the alkylation catalyst.

A process for producing ethylbenzene which comprises:

• (A) contacting at least a mole-excess of benzene and ethylene at a molar ratio of from about 4:1 to about 25:1, in an alkylation zone with an alkylation catalyst comprising a composite of a steam-stabilized hydrogen Y aluminosilicate zeolite admixed with an aluminum oxide binder in a molar ratio of from about 70:30 to about 90:10, under reaction conditions comprising a temperature of from about 300.degree. F. to about 500.degree. F., at a pressure of from about 150 p.s.i.g. to about 700 p.s.i.g., a weight hourly space velocity of from about 1 to about 50 pounds of benzene and ethylene per pound of catalyst per hour, said reaction conditions including the presence of a liquid phase and said steam-stabilized hydrogen Y aluminosilicate zeolite containing less than 0.7 weight percent of Na.sub.2 O and having a unit cell size from about 20.00 .ANG. to about 24.64 .ANG.;
• (B) separating the product from step (A) into fractions comprising (1) a benzene fraction, (2) a substantially pure ethylbenzene fraction, and (3) a poly-ethylbenzene fraction;
• (C) recovering the ethylbenzene fraction;
• (D) recycling a portion of the benzene in step (B) to the alkylation zone, and
• (E) subjecting a portion of benzene and the poly-ethylbenzene to transalkylation in a transalkylation zone under reaction conditions including the presence of a liquid phase in contact with a transalkylation catalyst comprising the composite defined in step (A);
• wherein the transalkylation catalyst comprises from about 25 to about 90 weight percent less than the alkylation catalyst.

A process for producing isopropylbenzene which comprises:

• (A) contacting at least a mole-excess of benzene and propylene at a molar ratio of from about 4:1 to about 25:1, in an alkylation zone with an alkylation catalyst comprising a composite of a steam-stabilized hydrogen Y aluminosilicate zeolite admixed with an aluminum oxide binder in a molar ratio of from about 70:30 to about 90:10, under reaction conditions comprising a temperature of from about 300.degree. F. to about 500.degree. F., at a pressure of from about 150 p.s.i.g. to about 700 p.s.i.g., a weight hourly space velocity of from about 1 to about 50 pounds of benzene and ethylene per pound of catalyst per hour, said reaction conditions including the presence of a liquid phase, and said steam-stabilized hydrogen Y aluminosilicate zeolite containing less than 0.7 weight percent of Na.sub.2 O and having a unit cell size from about 24.00 .ANG. to about 24.64 .ANG.;
• (B) separating the product from step (A) into fractions comprising (1) a benzene fraction, (2) a substantially pure isopropylbenzene fraction, and (3) a poly isopropylbenzene fraction;
• (C) recovering the isopropylbenzene fraction;
• (D) recycling a portion of the benzene in step (B) to the alkylation zone;
• and
• (E) subjecting a portion of benzene and the poly isopropylbenzene to transalkylation in a transalkylation zone under reaction conditions, including the presence of a liquid phase, in contact with a transalkylation catalyst comprising the composite defined in step (A), wherein the transalkylation catalyst comprises from about 25 to about 90 weight percent less than the alkylation catalyst.

A process for the production of alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons which comprises:

• (A) contacting at least a mole-excess of an aromatic hydrocarbon and a C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 olefin under reaction conditions, including the presence of a liquid phase, in an alkylation reaction zone with an alkylation catalyst comprising a composite of a steam-stabilized hydrogen Y aluminosilicate zeolite and a mineral oxide binder, said steam-stabilized hydrogen Y aluminosilicate zeolite containing less than 0.7 weight percent of Na.sub.2 O, having a unit cell size from 24.00 .ANG. to about 24.64 .ANG., and containing a Group IA metal or a Group IIA metal of the Periodic Table;
• (B) separating the product from step (A) into fractions comprising (1) an aromatic hydrocarbon fraction, (2) a substantially pure mono-alkylaromatic fraction, and (3) a poly alkylaromatic hydrocarbon fraction;
• (C) recovering the alkylaromatic fraction;
• (D) recycling a portion of the aromatic hydrocarbon in step (B) to the alkylation reaction zone;
• and
• (E) subjecting a portion of the aromatic hydrocarbon and the polyalkylaromatic hydrocarbon to transalkylation in a transalkylation zone under reaction conditions, including the presence of a liquid phase, in contact with a transalkylation catalyst comprising the composite defined in step (A), wherein the transalkylation catalyst comprises from about 25 to about 90 weight percent less than the alkylation catalyst.