AROMATIC ALKYLATION PROCESS WITH DIRECT RECYCLE

摘要

Process for the alkylation of an aromatic substrate with partial recycling of the alkylated product. A feedstock comprising an aromatic substrate and an alkylating agent is introduced into an alkylation reaction zone and into contact with a molecular sieve catalyst to produce an alkylation product which is withdrawn from the alkylation reaction zone and split into two portions. A first portion is recycled back to the alkylation reaction zone and supplied to the alkylation zone. A second portion is supplied to a suitable recovery zone for the separation of alkylated aromatic components from the unreacted aromatic substrate. The alkylation reaction zone may be operated under conditions in which the aromatic substrate is in the supercritical phase, and may comprise a plurality of catalyst beds wherein the recycled portion of the alkylation reaction product is subdivided into subproducts with one subproduct recycled to the inlet of the alkylation reaction zone and another subproduct introduced into the alkylation reaction zone between catalyst beds.