Abb Lummus Global Inc.

Lummus Technology Inc.

Stephen L Pohl

A process for the production of alkylbenzene includes the steps of introducing benzene and an olefin feed into a first alkylation reaction zone in the presence of a first alkylation catalyst under first alkylation reaction conditions to produce alkylbenzene and a vapor containing unconverted olefin; absorbing the unconverted olefin into an aromatic stream containing benzene and alkylbenzene; and, introducing the aromatic stream containing absorbed olefin into a second alkylation reaction zone containing a second alkylation catalyst under second alkylation reaction conditions to convert the absorbed olefin and at least some of the benzene of the aromatic stream to alkylbenzene. The process is particularly advantageous for the alkylation of benzene with ethylene to produce ethylbenzene. About 99.9% conversion of ethylene is achieved overall, with a substantial reduction in the required catalyst.

Process for the production of alkylbenzene

A process for the production of alkylbenzene includes introducing benzene and an olefin feed into a first alkylation reaction zone in the presence of a first alkylation catalyst under first alkylation reaction conditions to produce a first alkylation effluent containing alkylbenzene and a first alkylation overhead stream. The first alkylation overhead stream is separated into a liquid portion containing benzene and a vapor portion containing unconverted olefin and ethane. A major portion of the unconverted olefin in the vapor portion of the first alkylation overhead stream is absorbed into a de-ethanized aromatic lean oil stream containing benzene and alkylbenzene in an absorption zone to produce a rich oil stream containing olefins and at least some of the ethane. The rich oil stream is sent to a second alkylation reaction zone containing a second alkylation catalyst under second alkylation reaction conditions to produce a first aromatic lean oil stream, which is fractionated in a de-ethanizer to produces a de-ethanizer vapor overhead containing a major portion of the ethane and a liquid bottoms containing the de-ethanized aromatic lean oil.

Process for the production of alkylbenzene with ethane stripping

A process for producing an alkylaromatic compound includes contacting a dilute olefin feed with a lean oil stream containing aromatic compound and alkylaromatic compound in an absorption zone to provide an alkylation reaction stream containing aromatic compound, alkylaromatic compound and olefin. The alkylation reaction stream is reacted under alkylation reaction conditions in an alkylation reaction zone to provide an effluent containing the aromatic compound and alkylaromatic compound. The effluent of step is separated into the lean oil stream which is recycled to the absorption zone and a product portion from which an alkylaromatic product is recovered.

Process for the production of alkylaromatics

A process for the production of alkylbenzene includes the steps of introducing benzene and an olefin feed into a first alkylation reaction zone in the presence of a first alkylation catalyst under first alkylation reaction conditions to produce alkylbenzene and a vapor containing unconverted olefin; absorbing the unconverted olefin into an aromatic stream containing benzene and alkylbenzene; and, introducing the aromatic stream containing absorbed olefin into a second alkylation reaction zone containing a second alkylation catalyst under second alkylation reaction conditions to convert the absorbed olefin and at least some of the benzene of the aromatic stream to alkylbenzene. The process is particularly advantageous for the alkylation of benzene with ethylene to produce ethylbenzene. About 99.9% conversion of ethylene is achieved overall, with a substantial reduction in the required catalyst

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Wayne, NJ, United States of America

Stephen L Pohl