The typical catalyst of tungstophosphoric acid supported on SiO2 was characterized by using XRD, IR, NMR, BET and TPD apparatus. Its activity and selectivity to synthesize linear alkylbenzene (LAB) and 2-LAB have been investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. This kind of catalyst showed high activity, good selectivity for linear LAB and 2-LAB and stability. Kinetics of benzene alkylation with I-dodecene over the supported catalyst was also investigated in a fixed-bed reactor with eliminating the influence of internal and external diffusion. Rate models of the reactions forming different products of LAB were obtained and kinetic parameters were determined at the experimental conditions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.