Processes for the direct alkylation of ethylene with isobutane or isopentane using a highly active ionic liquid alkylation catalyst are described. Ethylene is sent to a high-temperature alkylation reactor loop, and C.sub.3, C.sub.4, and C.sub.5 olefins are routed to a low temperature alkylation reactor loop. In each reactor, the olefins are contacted with an excess of isobutane or isopentane in the presence of a highly active ionic liquid catalyst. Portions of the reactor effluent streams are fed to a common downstream catalyst separation and product fractionation sections. The remainder of the reactor effluent is recycled back to the respective alkylation reactor.

A liquid phase alkylation product from an alkylation reaction unit is introduced into a first heat-exchanger directly or after being pressurized with a pressure pump and heat-exchanged with a vapor phase stream from the column top of a high-pressure fractionating column n, then introduced into a second heat-exchanger and further heated to 100° C.-150° C., then introduced into the high-pressure fractionating column and subjected to fractionation at 2.0 MPa-4.0 MPa, the vapor phase stream from the column top of the high-pressure fractionating column is heat-exchanged with the liquid phase alkylation product to be separated, a liquid phase stream from the column bottom of the high-pressure fractionating column is introduced into a low-pressure fractionating column and subjected to fractionation under at 0.2 MPa-1.0 MPa, a low-carbon alkane is obtained from the column top of the low-pressure fractionating column n, and a liquid phase stream obtained from the column bottom of the low-pressure fractionating column is an alkylation oil product.

A liquid phase alkylation product from an alkylation reaction unit is introduced into a first heat-exchanger directly or after being pressurized with a pressure pump and heat-exchanged with a vapor phase stream from the column top of a high-pressure fractionating column n, then introduced into a second heat-exchanger and further heated to 100° C.-150° C., then introduced into the high-pressure fractionating column and subjected to fractionation at 2.0 MPa-4.0 MPa, the vapor phase stream from the column top of the high-pressure fractionating column is heat-exchanged with the liquid phase alkylation product to be separated, a liquid phase stream from the column bottom of the high-pressure fractionating column is introduced into a low-pressure fractionating column and subjected to fractionation under at 0.2 MPa-1.0 MPa, a low-carbon alkane is obtained from the column top of the low-pressure fractionating column n, and a liquid phase stream obtained from the column bottom of the low-pressure fractionating column is an alkylation oil product.

An improved alkylation process with improved octane number and lower final boiling point. Further, the present disclosure comprises an alkylation system that allows flexibility in the operating parameters without loss of productivity. This enhances the advantage of the solid acid alkylation process of the invention over the liquid acid processes, as the C9+ alkylate will mainly contain the desired highly branched paraffin's in the case of solid acid alkylation. By fractionation of C9+, the RON number of the gasoline alkylate after fractionation remains very high, while the final boiling point of the gasoline fraction will decrease, improving value and blending flexibility.

An improved alkylation process with improved octane number and lower final boiling point. Further, the present disclosure comprises an alkylation system that allows flexibility in the operating parameters without loss of productivity. This enhances the advantage of the solid acid alkylation process of the invention over the liquid acid processes, as the C9+ alkylate will mainly contain the desired highly branched paraffin's in the case of solid acid alkylation. By fractionation of C9+, the RON number of the gasoline alkylate after fractionation remains very high, while the final boiling point of the gasoline fraction will decrease, improving value and blending flexibility.

A process for separating an alkylation product includes introducing a liquid phase alkylation product from an alkylation reaction unit into a first heat-exchanger directly or after being pressurized with a pressure pump and heat-exchanged with a vapor phase stream from the column top of a high-pressure fractionating column, then into a second heat-exchanger and subsequently into the high-pressure fractionating column. The vapor phase stream from the column top of the high-pressure fractionating column is heat-exchanged with the liquid phase alkylation product to be separated, a liquid phase stream from the column bottom of the high-pressure fractionating column is introduced into a low-pressure fractionating column and subjected to fractionation under a condition of 0.2 MPa-1.0 MPa, a low-carbon alkane is obtained from the column top of the low-pressure fractionating column, and a liquid phase stream obtained from the column bottom of the low-pressure fractionating column is an alkylation oil product.

A process for separating an alkylation product includes introducing a liquid phase alkylation product from an alkylation reaction unit into a first heat-exchanger directly or after being pressurized with a pressure pump and heat-exchanged with a vapor phase stream from the column top of a high-pressure fractionating column, then into a second heat-exchanger and subsequently into the high-pressure fractionating column. The vapor phase stream from the column top of the high-pressure fractionating column is heat-exchanged with the liquid phase alkylation product to be separated, a liquid phase stream from the column bottom of the high-pressure fractionating column is introduced into a low-pressure fractionating column and subjected to fractionation under a condition of 0.2 MPa-1.0 MPa, a low-carbon alkane is obtained from the column top of the low-pressure fractionating column, and a liquid phase stream obtained from the column bottom of the low-pressure fractionating column is an alkylation oil product.

A solid acid catalyst has a macropore specific volume of about 0.30-0.50 ml/g, a ratio of macropore specific volume to specific length of catalyst particles of about 1.0-2.5 ml/(g.Math.mm), and a ratio of specific surface area to length of catalyst particles of about 3.40-4.50 m.sup.2/mm. The macropore refers to pores having a diameter of more than 50 nm. An alkylation catalyst is based on the solid acid catalyst and can be used in alkylation reactions. The solid acid catalyst and alkylation catalyst show an improved catalyst service life and/or trimethylpentane selectivity when used in the alkylation of isoparaffins with olefins.

A solid acid catalyst has a macropore specific volume of about 0.30-0.50 ml/g, a ratio of macropore specific volume to specific length of catalyst particles of about 1.0-2.5 ml/(g.Math.mm), and a ratio of specific surface area to length of catalyst particles of about 3.40-4.50 m.sup.2/mm. The macropore refers to pores having a diameter of more than 50 nm. An alkylation catalyst is based on the solid acid catalyst and can be used in alkylation reactions. The solid acid catalyst and alkylation catalyst show an improved catalyst service life and/or trimethylpentane selectivity when used in the alkylation of isoparaffins with olefins.

A process comprising a heterogeneous reaction between a solid metal organic framework supported catalyst and a hydrocarbon feed to form a modified hydrocarbon stream. The modified hydrocarbon stream comprises essentially of C6+ hydrocarbons.