Alkylation process for increased conversion and reduced catalyst use

An apparatus for the production of alkylated aromatic compounds comprising:

• a) a catalytic distillation unit having a first alkylation catalyst, an alkylator bottoms outlet below a lowermost portion of the first alkylation catalyst for discharging a liquid alkylator bottoms effluent, and an alkylator overhead outlet above an uppermost portion of the first alkylation catalyst for discharging an alkylator vapor overhead stream, wherein said catalytic distillation unit is operable in a combination liquid-vapor phase under alkylation reaction and distillation conditions;
• b) means for selectively and substantially removing any alkylated aromatic compounds in the alkylator vapor overhead stream to produce a scrubbed alkylator overhead stream;
• c) means for condensing and transferring said scrubbed alkylator overhead stream to a finishing reactor having a second alkylation catalyst and a finishing reactor outlet for discharging reacted finishing reactor effluent, wherein said finishing reactor is operable in a liquid phase under alkylation conditions;
• d) means for cooling said finishing reactor effluent to a temperature sufficiently low for condensing at least a portion of vaporous aromatic compounds in the catalytic distillation unit;
• and
• e) means for directing cooled finishing reactor effluent into the catalytic distillation unit to condense at least a portion of vaporous aromatic compounds in the catalytic distillation unit.