A process for producing 2,6-dialkylnaphthalene from a hydrocarbon
feedstock that contains at least one component selected from the group
consisting of dialkylnaphthalene isomers, monoalkylnaphthalene isomers,
polyalkylnaphthalenes, and naphthalene, is provided that includes the
following steps: I. separating the hydrocarbon feedstock and/or a
dealkylation product fed from step III into a naphthalene fraction, a
monoalkylnaphthalene fraction, a dialkylnaphthalene fraction and a
remaining products fraction; II. separating and purifying
2,6-dialkylnaphthalene from the dialkylnaphthalene fraction of step I;
III. dealkylating the hydrocarbon feedstock and/or the remaining products
fraction of step I and feeding the dealkylation product to step I; and
IV. alkylating the naphthalene and monoalkylnaphthalene fractions of step
I; wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is fed to step I or step III.