| abstract |
A process for recovering HF catalyst and acid soluble oil from an HF alkylation unit acid stream containing HF and acid soluble oils. The acid stream is charged to a distillation column, wherein free HF acid, and stripping fluid added to the column, are removed as an overhead fraction. A bottoms fraction is removed from this column containing acid soluble oil and some HF. This bottoms fraction is cooled and mixed with a light hydrocarbon, and the mixture is allowed to settle. The mixture separates into an HF-lean acid soluble oil, plus solvent upper phase and an HF-rich acid soluble oil lower phase. The HF-lean phase may be withdrawn from the process as a product or upgraded to improve its quality, permitting recycle of the HF-rich phase with reduced acid soluble oil content, to the alkylation unit. |