| abstract |
The present invention contacts the benzene feedstock with a solid acid such as acidic clay or acid zeolite in a pretreatment zone at a temperature above about 130 ° C. and less than about 300 ° C. to form a pretreated benzene feedstock, followed by alkylation / Preparing alkylated benzene or alkylated benzene in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst, comprising (a) contacting an alkylating agent in an alkylation zone, or (b) contacting a transalkylating agent in a transalkylation zone to produce an alkylated benzene or a mixture of alkylated benzenes. It relates to a method for preparing the mixture. The pretreatment step improves the lifetime of the alkylation / transalkylation catalyst. Preferred products are ethylbenzene and cumene.n n n n Ethylbenzene, cumene, pretreatment, alkylation, transalkylation, zeolites |