Reclamation of HF and recovery of gasoline from acid-soluble oil by cracking

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for reclaiming HF and producing valuable gasoline blending components from the conjunct polymeric byproducts (acid soluble oil or ASO) formed as a byproduct of acid-catalyzed isoparaffin-olefin alkylation comprising the steps of: (a) reacting isoparaffin and olefin in the presence of a liquid acid alkylation catalyst to form alkylate and ASO byproduct; (b) separating alkylate, unreacted isoparaffin, and a majority of said liquid acid alkylation catalyst from said ASO; (c) reacting said separated ASO of step (b) under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure to convert the hydrocarbon portion of said ASO to gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons and to liberate HF. In a preferred embodiment, the ASO is pre-mixed with hydrogen or a hydrogen donor before reaction at elevated temperature and pressure. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the elevated temperature reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst such as activated carbon.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.