ISOPARAFFIN-OLEFIN ALKYLATION

The inventive process includes reacting a mixture of olefin hydrocarbons and paraffin hydrocarbons within a reaction zone, having a lower portion, an upper portion, and a volume, in the presence of a sulfolane and hydrofluoric acid catalyst. This alkylation process includes introducing the hydrocarbon mixture into the lower portion of the reaction zone which contains the sulfolane and hydrofluoric acid catalyst and passing the resultant alkylate reaction effluent, which includes hydrocarbons and the catalyst, from the upper portion of the reaction zone to a settling zone. Within the settling zone, a phase separation occurs so as to produce a hydrocarbon phase and a catalyst phase. The catalyst phase is cooled to produce a cooled catalyst which is then utilized as the catalyst contained within the reaction zone.