Transalkylation of 1,3,5-triethylbenzene (TEB) with ethylbenzene (EB) has been studied over ZSM-5 zeolite using a riser simulator reactor with respect to optimizing DEB yield. The reaction temperature was varied from 350 to 500 degrees C with contact time ranging from 3 to 15s to report on the effect of reaction conditions on TEB conversion, DEB selectivity and isomerization of TEB. The transalkylation of TEB with EB was compared with the reactions of pure 1,3,5-TEB and ER (disproportionation, isomerization and cracking). A synergistic effect was observed on the conversion of 1,3,5-TEB and DEB yield. The 1,3,5-TEB conversion increased from 40% to 50% with simultaneous increase in the DEB selectivity from 17% to 36% in transalkylation reaction (EB + 1,3,5-TEB) as compared with the reaction of pure 1,3,5-TEB. It was found that pure 1,3,5-TEB underwent cracking reaction to produce DEB and EB. The isomerization of 1,3,5-TEB was more active at low temperature while cracking was more active at high temperature. The temperature of 350 degrees C was observed as the optimum for production of maximum amount of DEB. Kinetic parameters for the disappearance of 1,3,5-TEB during its transformation reaction via cracking and isomerization pathways were calculated using the catalyst activity decay function based on time-on-stream (TOS). The apparent activation energies decrease in order E-secondary (cracking) > E-primary racking > E-isomerization for ZSM-5 catalysts. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.