Alkylaromatics production

• US 6,984,764 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exxonmobil Oil Corporation (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exxonmobil Oil Corporation (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Roth, Wieslaw J., Mazzone, Dominick N., Ratigan, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tam M.
• Application Number:
  US09/305,019
• Time in Patent Office: 2,443 Days
• Field of Search: 585/323, 585/375, 585/467, 585/475
• US Class Current: 585/323
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/08 Preforms made of several individual parts, e.g. by welding or gluing parts together
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/0691 using sheet like material, e.g. sheet blow-moulding from joined sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/20 of articles having inserts or reinforcements ; Handling of inserts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/44 for applying pressure through the walls of an inflated bag
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/446 Moulding structures having an axis of symmetry or at least one channel, e.g. tubular structures, frames
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/08 of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/258 Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 15/073 Ethylbenzene
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 15/085 Isopropylbenzene
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/18 of the mordenite type
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2529/70 of types characterised by their specific structure not provided for in groups C07C2529/08 - C07C2529/65
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 6/126 of more than one hydrocarbon
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic compound, particularly ethylbenzene or cumene, in which a polyalkylated aromatic compound is contacted with an alkylatable aromatic compound in the liquid phase and in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst comprising TEA-mordenite having an average crystal size of less than 0.5 micron.

Claims

1. A process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic compound comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting an alkylatable aromatic compound with an alkylating agent in the presence of an alkylation catalyst in an alkylation reaction to provide a product comprising said monoalkylated aromatic compound and a polyalkylated aromatic compound, and then

(b) contacting the polyalkylated aromatic compound from step (a) with said alkylatable aromatic compound in the liquid phase and in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst in a transalkylation reactor separate from said alkylation reactor, said transalkylation catalyst comprising TEA-mordenite having an average crystal size of less than 0.5 micron to produce said monoalkylated aromatic compound.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the alkylation step (a) is conducted in the liquid phase.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the alkylating agent includes an alkylating aliphatic group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the alkylating agent is ethylene or propylene and the alkylatable aromatic compound is benzene.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the alkylation catalyst of step (a) is selected from MCM-22, MCM-49, MCM-56 and zeolite beta.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein step (a) is conducted at a temperature between about 300°

and 600°

F. (about 150° and

316°

C.), a pressure up to about 3000 psig (20875 kPa), a space velocity between about 0.1 and 20 WHSV, based on the ethylene feed, and a ratio of the benzene to the ethylene between about 1;

1 and 30;

1 molar.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein step (b) is conducted at a temperature of 100 to 260°

C., a pressure of 10 to 50 barg, a weight hourly space velocity of 1 to 10 on total feed, and benzene/polyalkylated benzene weight ratio 1;

1 to 6;

1.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the TEA-mordenite was produced by crystallization from a synthesis mixture comprising a Si/Al₂ molar ratio of less than 90.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein the TEA-mordenite was produced by crystallization from a synthesis mixture comprising a Si/Al₂ molar ratio of between about 35 and about 50.