An alkylation process is described. The alkylation process includes contacting a feed comprising a paraffin or an aromatic with an olefin feed in the presence of a liquid Lewis acid catalyst in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions to form a reaction mixture comprising alkylation products and the liquid Lewis acid catalyst. The liquid Lewis acid catalyst is the liquid reaction product of a donor molecule and a metal halide. The alkylation products are separated from the liquid Lewis acid catalyst and recovered.

An alkylation process is described. The alkylation process includes contacting a feed comprising a paraffin or an aromatic with an olefin feed in the presence of a liquid Lewis acid catalyst in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylation conditions to form a reaction mixture comprising alkylation products and the liquid Lewis acid catalyst. The liquid Lewis acid catalyst is the liquid reaction product of a donor molecule and a metal halide. The alkylation products are separated from the liquid Lewis acid catalyst and recovered.

A hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The process involves contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid catalyst in a reaction zone under reaction conditions to form a mixture comprising reaction products, and the non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid catalyst. Typical hydrocarbon conversion processes include alkylation, oligomerization, isomerization, disproportionation, and reverse disproportionation.

A hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The process involves contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid catalyst in a reaction zone under reaction conditions to form a mixture comprising reaction products, and the non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid catalyst. Typical hydrocarbon conversion processes include alkylation, oligomerization, isomerization, disproportionation, and reverse disproportionation.

One or more processes for recovering entrained ionic liquid from a hydrocarbon phase containing droplets of ionic liquid are described. The processes includes contacting the hydrocarbon phase containing the droplets of ionic liquid with a retaining material in a separation zone. The droplets of ionic liquid are retained by the retaining material. The ionic liquid may be recovered from the retaining material with a solvent or desorbent. The retaining material may be regenerated and the ionic liquid may be reactivated. The retaining material may be used in a wash vessel to retain or remove contaminant solids within the reactor or other vessels.

Alkylation processes are described. The processes utilize ionic liquid catalysts having a kinematic viscosity range of about 50 cSt to about 100 cSt at 25 C. Catalysts within this range produce alkylate having higher octane than catalysts outside this range, especially at higher process temperatures which are preferable from an operating cost standpoint. The alkylate can have one or more of a research octane number of at least about 93, a selectivity of C.sub.8 of at least about 65%, and a mole ratio of trimethylpentane to dimethylhexane of greater than about 7:1.

Alkylation processes are described. The processes utilize ionic liquid catalysts having a kinematic viscosity range of about 50 cSt to about 100 cSt at 25 C. Catalysts within this range produce alkylate having higher octane than catalysts outside this range, especially at higher process temperatures which are preferable from an operating cost standpoint. The alkylate can have one or more of a research octane number of at least about 93, a selectivity of C.sub.8 of at least about 65%, and a mole ratio of trimethylpentane to dimethylhexane of greater than about 7:1.

Alkylation processes are described. The processes utilize ionic liquid catalysts having a kinematic viscosity range of about 50 cSt to about 100 cSt at 25 C. Catalysts within this range produce alkylate having higher octane than catalysts outside this range, especially at higher process temperatures which are preferable from an operating cost standpoint. The alkylate can have one or more of a research octane number of at least about 93, a selectivity of C.sub.8 of at least about 65%, and a mole ratio of trimethylpentane to dimethylhexane of greater than about 7:1.

An alkylation process utilizing less than 10 vol % of a halometallate based ionic liquid catalyst is described. By decreasing the catalyst volume fraction, the level of subsequent undesirable reactions may be minimized. The total residence time is typically in the range of about 1 min to about 30 min. The alkylate typically has a research octane number of at least about 93, and the olefin conversion is typically at least about 96%.

An alkylation process utilizing less than 10 vol % of a halometallate based ionic liquid catalyst is described. By decreasing the catalyst volume fraction, the level of subsequent undesirable reactions may be minimized. The total residence time is typically in the range of about 1 min to about 30 min. The alkylate typically has a research octane number of at least about 93, and the olefin conversion is typically at least about 96%.