Production of isopropyl aromatics by passing portions of transalkylation effluent to a multi-bed alkylation zone

A process for producing isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbons, said process comprising:

• a) passing a first transalkylation feed stream comprising an aromatic substrate hydrocarbon to a transalkylation reaction zone, passing a second transalkylation feed stream comprising a first isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon having more than one isopropyl group to said transalkylation reaction zone, transalkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with said first isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of a first solid catalyst in said transalkylation reaction zone to produce a second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon having at least one more isopropyl group than said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon, and recovering from said transalkylation reaction zone a transalkylation effluent stream comprising said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon and said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon;
• b) passing a first alkylation feed stream comprising propylene to a first bed of an alkylation reaction zone, passing a first aliquot portion of said transalkylation effluent stream to said first bed, and alkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with propylene in the presence of a second solid catalyst in said first bed to produce a first bed effluent stream comprising said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon and said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon;
• c) passing a second alkylation feed stream comprising propylene to a second bed of said alkylation reaction zone, passing at least a portion of said first bed effluent stream to said second bed, and alkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with propylene in the presence of a third solid catalyst in said second bed to produce a second bed effluent stream comprising said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon and said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon;
• d) passing a third alkylation feed stream comprising propylene to a third bed of said alkylation reaction zone, passing at least a portion of said second bed effluent stream to said third bed, passing a second aliquot portion of said transalkylation effluent stream to said third bed, and alkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with propylene in the presence of a fourth solid catalyst in said third bed to produce a third bed effluent stream comprising said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon and said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon;
• e) passing a fourth alkylation feed stream comprising propylene to a fourth bed of said alkylation reaction zone, passing at least a portion of said third bed effluent stream to said fourth bed, alkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with propylene in the presence of a fifth solid catalyst in said fourth bed to produce a fourth bed effluent stream comprising said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon and said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon;
• f) recovering said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon from said process.

A process for producing isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbons, said process comprising:

• a) passing a first transalkylation feed stream comprising an aromatic substrate hydrocarbon to a transalkylation reaction zone, passing a second transalkylation feed stream comprising a first isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon having more than one isopropyl group to said transalkylation reaction zone, transalkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with said first isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of a first solid catalyst in said transalkylation reaction zone to produce a second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon having at least one more isopropyl group than said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon, and recovering from said transalkylation reaction zone a transalkylation effluent stream comprising said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon and said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon;
• b) passing a first alkylation feed stream comprising propylene to a first bed of an alkylation reaction zone, passing a first aliquot portion of said transalkylation effluent stream to said first bed, and alkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with propylene in the presence of a second solid catalyst in said first bed to produce a first bed effluent stream comprising said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon and said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon;
• c) passing a second alkylation feed stream comprising propylene to a second bed of said alkylation reaction zone, passing at least a portion of said first bed effluent stream to said second bed, alkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with propylene in the presence of a third solid catalyst in said second bed, and withdrawing a second bed effluent stream comprising said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon from said second bed;
• and
• d) passing a third alkylation feed stream comprising propylene to a third bed of said alkylation reaction zone, passing at least a portion of said second bed effluent stream to said third bed, passing a second aliquot portion of said transalkylation effluent stream to said third bed, and alkylating said aromatic substrate hydrocarbon with propylene in the presence of a fourth solid catalyst in said third bed to produce said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon;
• and
• e) recovering said second isopropyl aromatic hydrocarbon from said process.

A process for the production of cumene, said process comprising:

• a) contacting an aromatic feed comprising benzene, a benzene recycle stream comprising benzene, and a diisopropylbenzene stream comprising diisopropylbenzene in a transalkylation reaction zone with a transalkylation catalyst at transalkylation conditions to produce a transalkylation zone effluent comprising benzene, cumene, and diisopropylbenzene;
• b) contacting a first aliquot portion of said transalkylation zone effluent and a first olefin feed comprising propylene and propane in a first bed of an alkylation reaction zone with a first solid alkylation catalyst at alkylation conditions to provide a first alkylation bed effluent comprising propane, benzene, cumene, diisopropylbenzene, and a heavies hydrocarbon;
• c) contacting a second aliquot portion of said transalkylation zone effluent and a second olefin feed comprising propylene and propane in a second bed of said alkylation reaction zone with a second solid alkylation catalyst at alkylation conditions to provide a second alkylation bed effluent comprising propane, benzene, cumene, diisopropylbenzene, and said heavies hydrocarbon;
• d) separating said second alkylation bed effluent in a benzene separation zone into a benzene fraction comprising benzene and propane and a benzene bottoms stream comprising cumene, diisopropylbenzene, and said heavies hydrocarbon;
• e) separating said benzene fraction in a light ends column into said benzene recycle stream and a light ends stream comprising propane;
• f) separating said benzene bottoms stream into a product stream comprising cumene and a cumene bottoms stream comprising diisopropylbenzene and said heavies hydrocarbon;
• and
• g) separating said cumene bottoms stream into a heavies stream comprising said heavies hydrocarbon that is removed from the process and said diisopropylbenzene stream.