Alkylation process utilizing ultrasonics

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS OF ALKYLATION WHERE ISOPARAFFIN AND OLEFIN HYDROCARBONS ARE REACTED IN THE PRESENCE OF A CONCENTRATED SULFURIC ACID ALKYLATION CATALYST TO FORM ALKYLATE UNDER PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN THE HYDROCABORNS IN THE LIQUID PHASE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES FLOWING A MIXTURE OF SAID ISOPARAFFIN AND OLEFIN HYDROCARBONS TOGETHER WITH SAID ALKYLATION CATALYST IN A RATIO OF 50 TO 95 PARTS OF ACID CATALYST PER HUNDRED PARTS OF HYDROCARBON BY VOLUME UNDER ALKYLATING CONDITIONS INCLUDING COOLING THROUGH AN ULTRASONIC REACTOR IN WHICH PROCESS THE MIXTURE IS SUBJECTED TO ULTRASONIC VIBRATIONS AT A FREQUENCY OF 100 TO 1000 KILOCYLES PER SOUND , IN WHICH THE ULTRASONIC VIBRATIONS ARE THE SOLE EMULSIFYING AGENCY IN THE ULTRASONIC REACTOR, AND IN WHICH THE RESIDENCE TIME IN THE ULTRASONIC REACTOR IS NOT OVER THREE MINUTES, WHEREBY THERE IS EFFECTED AN INTIMATE BUT BRAKABLE EMULSION OF THE HYDROCARBON REACTANTS AND THE CATALYST, AND THEREAFTER BREAKING THE EMULSION AND RECOVERING THE ALKYLATE.