Alkylation process using metal pyrophosphate hydrate-bf3 catalyst

Claim 1

AN ALKYLATION PROCESS COMPRISING CONTACTING (A) AN ALKYLATABLE FEED HYDROCARBON FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF (1) ISOPARAFFIN HAVING FROM 4 TO 8 CARBON ATOMS AND (2) AROMATIC HYDROCARBON AND (B) AN OLEFIN HAVING FROM 2 TO 12 CARBON ATOMS, IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST COMPRISING ESSENTIALLY (I) A METAL PYROPHOSPHATE SALT CONTAINING WATER OF HYDRATION, SAID METAL FORMING AN ION FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALUMINUM, BERYLLIUM, CADMIUM, CABALTOUS, CUPROUS, FERROUS, FERRIC, MANGANOUS, NICKELOUS, STANNIC, THORIUM, TITANIUM, ZINC, AND ZIRCONIUM, AND (II) BF3, SAID BF3 BEING PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF ABOUT 1 MOLE PER MOLE OF WATER OF HYDRATION IN SAID SALT, AT A TEMPERATURE BE TWEEN ABOUT -30*C. AND A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH SAID HYDRATE SALT DECOMPOSES, AND AT A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID REACTANTS IN THE LIQUID STATE, AND SEPARATING A HYDROCARBON PRODUCT MIXTURE CONTAINING ALKYLATE PRODUCT OF SAID FEED HYDROCARBON AND SAID OLEFIN.