Sorption process

Claim 1

IN THE ALKYLATION OF AN AROMATIC HYDROCARBON IN A REACTION ZONE IN THE PRESENCE OF BORON TRIFLUORIDE AND A BORON TRIFLUORIDE-MODIFIED SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS INORGANIC OXIDE, THE PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES WITHDRAWING THE RESULTANT EFFLUENT FROM THE REACTION ZONE AND SEPARATING THEREFROM A SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS AROMATIC HYDROCARBON LIQUID RECYCLE STREAM CONTAINING REACTION PRODUCTS OF WATER, BORON TRIFLUORIDE, AND BORON TRIFLUORIDE-MODIFIED SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS INORGANIC OXIDE, SAID PRODUCTS INDLUCING HYDRATES OF BORON OXIDES AND COORDINATION COMPOUNDS COMPRISING BORON, HYDROGEN, OXYGEN AND FLUORINE, CONTACTING THE SEPARATED RECYCLE STREAM CONTAINING SAID REACTION PRODUCTS WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS INORGANIC OXIDE, SORBING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID PRODUCTS IN SAID INORGANIC OXIDE SO AS TO REDUCE THE ACCUMMULATION OF SAID PRODUCTS WITHIN THE PROCESS, AND RETURNING THE THUS PURIFIED RECYCLE STREAM TO THE REACTION ZONE.