Integrated reactor for ionic liquid alkylation using bio-ethylene feedstock

A process for the catalytic alkylation of an olefin with an isoparaffin in a loop reactor system, the process comprising:

• (a) introducing a bio-ethylene feed and an isobutane feed into a loop reactor system comprising at least one loop reactor;
• (b) supplying an ionic liquid catalyst to the reactor system, wherein the ionic liquid catalyst comprises an organic cation and a halometallate anion, and the ionic liquid is present in an amount of at least 35 vol. % of a total volume of fluid in the loop reactor system;
• (c) circulating the ethylene feed and isobutane feed through the loop reactor in the presence of the ionic liquid catalyst under reaction conditions effective for reaction between the ethylene and the isobutane to produce an alkylate having a research octane number (RON) of 93 or more;
• wherein the reaction conditions include a temperature of from 30° C. to 100° C., a pressure of from 300 psig to 700 psig (2068 kPa to 4826 kPa), and an overall paraffin to olefin molar ratio of from 2 to 20;
• and
• wherein fluid circulating through the loop reactor system comprises a continuous phase comprising the ionic liquid and a dispersed phase comprising hydrocarbons.