Regeneration of an ionic liquid catalyst using metal complexes

A method for regenerating deactivated ionic liquid catalyst containing conjunct polymer comprising:

• contacting the deactivated ionic liquid catalyst containing the conjunct polymer in a regeneration zone under regeneration conditions with either:
• at least one metal complex having a general formula M1n+Rn, where M1 is aluminum, gallium, zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium, boron, lithium, sodium, potassium, or calcium;
• R has a −1 charge and is independently selected from substituted and unsubstituted hydrocarbyl groups having 1-10 carbons, hydride, or halides, and n+ is the oxidation state of M1, the conjunct polymer reacting with the at least one metal complex having a general formula M1n+Rn, resulting in a reaction mixture comprising a first ionic liquid, at least one metal compound containing M1, and the conjunct polymer;
• or
• at least one metal complex having a general formula [M2a+]x[M3b+yRz](xa/(z−by)), where M2 is lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, or calcium, M3 is aluminum, gallium, zinc, copper, iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium or boron, R has a −1 charge and is independently selected from substituted and unsubstituted hydrocarbyl groups having 1-10 carbons, hydride, or halides, a+ is the oxidation state of M2, b+ is the oxidation state of M3, x is the number of M2 ions, y is the number of M3, and z is the number of R groups, the conjunct polymer reacting with the at least one metal complex having the general formula [M2a+]x[M3b+yRz](xa/(z−by)) resulting in a mixture comprising a second ionic liquid, at least one metal compound containing the M2 ion, a metal compound containing M3, and the conjunct polymer;
• and
• separating the mixture into a hydrocarbon effluent and an ionic liquid effluent, the hydrocarbon effluent comprising the conjunct polymer, and the ionic liquid effluent comprising:
• the first ionic liquid and the at least one metal compound containing M1;
• or the second ionic liquid, the at least one metal compound containing the M2 ion, and the metal compound containing M3.