Alkylation processes are described herein. The alkylation process generally includes contacting an input stream including benzene with an alkylation catalyst and an alkylating agent to form an alkylation output stream including ethylbenzene. The alkylation process further includes contacting at least a portion of the alkylation output stream with a transalkylation catalyst and a benzene source to form a transalkylation output stream, wherein the benzene source is selected to minimize the amount of alkylation catalyst poisons contacting the alkylation catalyst.