| abstract |
A process for making cyclohexylbenzene includes (a) contacting benzene and hydrogen in the presence of a first catalyst under hydroalkylation conditions sufficient to form a first effluent stream having cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexane, methyl cyclopentane, and unreacted benzene, (b) supplying a portion of the first effluent stream to a first separation system to divide the first effluent stream part into (i) a C6-nch stream compπsing benzene, cyclohexane, and methylcyclopentane and (ιι) a cyclohexylbenzene-πch stream, (c) contacting a portion of the C6-πch stream with a second catalyst that catalyzes dehydrogenation and exhibits low acidity under conditions sufficient to convert a portion of the cyclohexane to benzene and a portion of the methylcyclopentane to linear and/or branched paraffins to form a second effluent stream, and (d) recycling a portion of the second effluent stream to the contacting step (a). |