Process for producing alkylaromatics

Claim 1

In a process for producing a linear alkylaromatic product from a C 9 -C 18 n-paraffin-containing feed stock and a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon by (i) contacting said C 9 -C 18 n-paraffin-containing feed stock with chlorine or bromine in a halogenation step to form a monohalogenated n-paraffin alkylating agent, and (ii) reacting said aromatic hydrocarbon with said alkylating agent in an alkylation step, utilizing an alkylation catalyst, to provide said linear alkylaromatic product, wherein oxygen-containing hydrocarbonaceous compounds are present in said feed stock in concentrations sufficient to inhibit the rate of halogenation of said n-paraffin in said halogenation step, the improvement which comprises contacting said feed stock, prior to said halogenation step, with a sorbent selected from the group consisting of dehydrated silica gel, activated alumina, activated charcoal, zeolites, clay and sulphonic ion-exchange resin under separation conditions, including a contact time of about 0.1 to about 120 minutes and a temperature of about 0° C. to about 200° C., sufficient to remove at least a portion of said oxygen-containing compounds from said feed stock, whereby the rate of halogenation of said n-paraffin is increased.