Process for liquid phase alkylation

A method for the liquid-phase alkylation of benzene comprising:

• providing a multi-stage alkylation reaction zone having a plurality of series-connected catalyst beds, wherein at least one catalyst bed contains a first alkylation zeolite beta catalyst that is a cerium modified zeolite with elevated resistance to gas phase ethylene as compared to a non-modified catalyst;
• introducing a feedstock of benzene and ethylene in a benzene:ethylene ratio weight ratio per catalyst bed within a range of about 1:1 to 15:1 into the multistage alkylation reaction zone and into contact with said alkylation catalyst;
• operating the alkylation multistage reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which the benzene is in a liquid phase to cause liquid-phase alkylation of the benzene in the presence of the alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylation product comprising ethylbenzene and one or more polyalkylated aromatic components;
• withdrawing the alkylation product from the multistage alkylation reaction zone;
• and
• supplying the alkylation product to a recovery zone for the separation and recovery of ethylbenzene from the alkylation product and for the separation and recovery of polyalkylated aromatic components;
• wherein the at least one catalyst bed contains a second alkylation catalyst, wherein the first alkylation catalyst has greater resistance to gas phase ethylene than the second alkylation catalyst, and wherein any feedstock of ethylene contacts the first alkylation catalyst prior to contacting the second alkylation catalyst;
• wherein all of the ethylene is present in a liquid phase upon contacting the secondalkylation catalyst.

A method for the liquid-phase alkylation of an aromatic substrate comprising:

• providing an alkylation reaction zone having one or more catalyst beds, wherein the one or more catalyst beds comprises a first catalyst having a cerium ion modified zeolite beta catalyst for resistance to gas phase alkene deactivation by the inclusion of said cerium ion;
• introducing a feedstock of an aromatic substrate and an alkylating agent comprising ethylene into the alkylation reaction zone and into contact with the one or more catalyst beds wherein at least a portion of the ethylene is in a gas phase upon contacting the first catalyst;
• operating the alkylation reaction zone at temperature and pressure conditions in which the aromatic substrate is in a liquid phase to cause liquid-phase alkylation of the aromatic substrate to produce an alkylation product;
• and
• withdrawing the alkylation product from the multistage alkylation reaction zone;
• wherein the first catalyst has a cerium content within a range of about 0.01 wt % to 5.0 wt %;
• wherein the one or more catalyst beds further comprise a second catalyst having no cerium content, and wherein the second catalyst is located downstream from the first catalyst within the one or more catalyst beds to thereby cause the first catalyst to contact the alkylating agent before the alkylating agent contacts the second catalyst;
• wherein all of the ethylene is present in a liquid phase upon contacting the second catalyst.