Benzene → Cumene

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A combined alkylation-transalkylation reactor was configured in accordance with FIG. 4 of the present invention. An MCM-22 type catalyst provided by ExxonMobil Chemical Company (identified as MC-1571) was loaded into the combined reactor. The amount of the catalyst loaded in the combined rector was 60 grams. A feed comprising 30 grams per hour of propylene (0.71 moles/hr), 101 grams per hour of benzene (1.29 moles/hr), and 59 grams per hour of recycle diisopropylbenzenes was introduced into the combined reactor. The recycle diisopropyl-benzenes was of about 93% purity. The combined reactor inlet temperature was maintained at 365° F. (171° C.). The combined reactor outlet temperature was maintained at 361° F. (183° C.) by recycling part of the combined reactor effluent back to the combined reactor inlet. The combined reactor pressure was maintained at about 370 psig (2551 kPAg). A comparison of the combined reactor feed and effluent listed in TABLE 2 below indicates that the combined reactor produced 78 grams per hour (0.65 moles/hr) of cumene without producing essentially any additional diisopropylbenzene byproduct in this experiment.

Provenance & Evidence