Neorius | Advanced Refining and Chemical Technologies

Linear Alkylbenzene Alkylation Production Technology

Neorius owns multiple production technologies for linear alkylbenzene alkylation. Based on feed composition, product quality requirements, plant capacity, investment budget, environmental regulations, and safety standards, customized technical routes—including liquid acid and solid acid alkylation—can be provided. The scope of supply covers process design, catalyst selection, reaction and separation system configuration, and catalyst regeneration system design.

Liquid Acid Alkylation Technology

Liquid acid alkylation uses a liquid acid as the catalyst to catalyze alkylation between benzene and linear olefins for linear alkylbenzene production. This well-established process delivers high reaction activity and good feed adaptability. Catalyst systems such as hydrofluoric acid or sulfuric acid can be adopted according to project conditions. By optimizing key operating parameters including acid-to-hydrocarbon ratio, benzene-to-olefin ratio, reaction temperature, residence time and mass transfer conditions, we can raise olefin conversion rate and linear alkylbenzene selectivity, and curb the formation of by-products such as heavy alkylbenzene.

Solid Acid Alkylation Technology

Solid acid alkylation technology is developed to tackle drawbacks of traditional liquid acid processes, namely equipment corrosion, safety hazards and waste acid disposal difficulties. We adjust zeolite synthesis routes and optimize catalyst modification methods to develop solid acid catalysts featuring high activity, excellent selectivity and extended service life. Combined with proprietary catalyst regeneration technology, the catalysts can be reused cyclically. We thereby provide a complete set of solid acid alkylation technology for linear alkylbenzene manufacturing.

Solid Acid Catalysts 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.

Solid Acid Catalysts 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.