A novel catalytic distillation process using a catalyst suspension is studied with the alkylation of benzene with propylene as a model reaction This new process is designated as “suspension catalytic distillation” (SCD) Exploratory experiments indicate that SCD can be operated steadily as long as a suitable catalyst is used For the synthesis of cumene in the SCD process

100% conversion of propylene with more than 90% selectivity to cumene can be obtained under very mild conditions: atmospheic pressure

low temperature (80—100 ℃)

low benzene/olefin mole ratio (1 75—3) The cumene product has extremely high purity with both n propylbenzene and C 8 aromatic less than 100ppm Compared with conventional Catalytic Distillation

SCD has many advantages

such as:① No need to manufacture catalytic packing;② No need to shut down the unit to replace the spent catalyst;③ Mass and heat transfer are better with fine catalyst particle than catalytic packings The SCD process is an advanced new catalytic distillation technology and is prospective and obviously worthwhile for further R & D efforts.