Alkylation of Benzene with Short-Chain Olefins over MCM-22 Zeolite: Catalytic Behaviour and Kinetic Mechanism

Benzene alkylation with ethene and propene has been carried out under liquid-phase reaction conditions over zeolites MCM-22, Beta, and ZSM-5. MCM-22 seems to be a good catalyst for benzene alkylation especially with propene, showing high activity and stability and good selectivity. Kinetic experiments show that alkylation with propene follows an Eley–Rideal type mechanism.