Rejuvenation of deselectivated alkylation catalyst

摘要

A process for alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbon reactants to dialkylbenzene products, whereby chemically modified zeolite catalysts are treated with an organic acid to enhance their intrinsic para-selectivity in the alkylation reaction. The modified zeolites which may be so reselectivated or improved comprise those crystalline zeolites having a constraint index of 1 to 12, a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least 12, and having a minor proportion of the oxide form of one or more chemical elements (e.g. phosphorus and magnesium) deposited thereon.