Coated catalyst for aromatic alkylation

A process for the alkylation of aromatic compounds with olefins comprising:

• contacting aromatic compounds and olefins under conditions of temperature and pressure for alkylation in the presence of a catalyst useful for multi-phase reactors, the catalyst comprising:
• an active component surrounded by an inert, porous coating on a surface of the active component, wherein the inert, porous_coating provides a liquid film around the active component to increase the useful life of the active component as compared to an uncoated active component;
• wherein said inert, porous coating has a pore diameter and contact angle which are selected in conjunction with the surface tension of the liquid to maintain a capillary pressure high enough to prevent the liquid from being displaced by vapor during a two phase flow over the catalyst;
• wherein the capillary pressure is calculated by the formula Pc=2σ cos θ/r;
• where
• Pc is the capillary pressure, psi;
• σ is the surface tension of the liquid, pounds per cubic inch;
• θ is the contact angle of the inert, porous coating in radians;
• and
• r is the radius of the pore, inches.