| abstract |
A process of preparing ethylbenzene from ethane and benzene as raw materials. The process involves (1) contacting ethane in a dehydrogenation zone with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a mordenite zeolite, optionally containing a metallic component selected from gallium, zinc, and the platinum group metals under reaction conditions which yield a dilute ethylene stream in ethane. Thereafter, the ethylene stream is contacted with benzene in an alkylation zone in the presence of an alkylation catalyst, such as an acidic zeolite or a porous magnesium silicate, under reaction conditions such that ethylbenzene is formed. |