Neorius | Advanced Refining and Chemical Technologies

Solid Acid Alkylation Technology for Linear Alkylbenzene Production

To address the issues of equipment corrosion and difficult waste acid treatment in traditional HF-based processes for producing linear alkylbenzene (a precursor for surfactants), a long-life solid acid catalyst was developed by regulating zeolite synthesis and optimizing catalyst modification methods. This was paired with a proprietary regeneration process, resulting in the solid acid alkylation technology for LAB production.

Key Features & Benefits

Broad feedstock adaptability

Suitable for petroleum-based/coal-based α-olefins and mixed α-olefins as alkylating agents.

Excellent catalyst performance

Long catalyst lifetime, high selectivity toward LAB and the high-value isomer 2-phenyl dodecane (2-LAB), with side-chain carbon number consistent with feedstock olefin.

Green, safe, and environmentally friendly

Utilizes zeolite-based solid acid catalysts to achieve intrinsic safety.High product purityLAB product contains no non-hydrocarbon components or metal impurities, meeting the requirements of high-end sectors such as the electronics industry.

Strong techno-economic viability

Employs fixed-bed process with mild reaction conditions.Figure 2.4 Process Flow Diagram for Solid Acid Alkylation to Produce LABTable 2.4 Process Conditions and Technical Indicators.

Technical Parameters

Case Study

A coal-to-liquids enterprise had no effective utilization route for its Fischer–Tropsch C9–C12 distillates. As the company plans to develop a 1.2 Mt/year fine chemicals project, it aims to integrate its upstream and downstream chains by adopting the solid acid alkylation technology to convert C9–C12 distillates into LAB, thereby supplying raw materials for downstream fine chemical production.

Solution：

A new solid acid alkylation unit will be constructed, using benzene and upstream Fischer–Tropsch C9–C12 distillates as the olefin source. With full-range feedstock processing, the unit will achieve an annual LAB production capacity of 300,000 tons.

Contact us to learn about the commercialization of Solid Acid Alkylation Technology and get a customized solution.