METHOD FOR REGENERATING HF/SULFOLANE ALKYLATION CATALYST

摘要

This is a method for separating acid soluble oil (ASO) from a mixture containing ASO, HF and sulfolane comprising the steps of: (a) stripping the alkylation catalyst in a stripping tower (20) with a stripping gas (22) to obtain an intermediate product (28) containing less than 5 weight percent HF; (b) charging said intermediate product (28) to a gravitational separation zone (30); (c) holding said intermediate product in said gravitational separation zone for time sufficient to evolve two at least partially immiscible liquid phases in said gravitational separation zone; and (d) withdrawing a less dense phase enriched in ASO (42) and a more dense phase enriched in sulfolane from said gravitational separation zone.