The Dow Chemical Company

Mohammed S U Samson

Guo-shuh J Lee

Garmt R Meima

Matheus J M Van Der Aalst

Juan M Graces

A process of preparing an alkylated benzene or mixture of alkylated benzenes involving contacting a benzene feedstock with a solid acid, such as an acidic clay or acid zeolite, in a pretreatment zone at a temperature greater than about 130&deg; C. but less than about 300&deg; C. to form a pretreated benzene feedstock, and thereafter contacting the pretreated benzene feedstock with (a) an alkylating agent in an alkylation zone or (b) a transalkylating agent in a transalkylation zone, in the presence of an alkylation/transalkylation catalyst so as to prepare the alkylated benzene or mixture of alkylated benzenes. The pretreatment step improves the lifetime of the alkylation/transalkylation catalyst. Preferred products are ethylbenzene and cumene.

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Terneuzen, Netherlands

Mohammed S U Samson