Methods for controlling water content of sulfuric acid in a sulfuric acid catalyzed process

摘要

A method is provided for reducing the water content of a sulfuric acid catalyst in a sulfuric acid-catalyzed process carried out in a reactor comprising: (a) withdrawing a portion of catalyst from the acid settler, forming a withdrawn catalyst stream; (b) continuously adding an SO₃-containing substance to the withdrawn catalyst stream at a desired rate, forming a fortified catalyst, while maintaining the temperature of the fortified catalyst stream below about 60° F.; (c) returning the fortified catalyst to the reactor; whereby the water concentration in the fortified catalyst is maintained at 1.5 to 4 weight percent of the catalyst. A method is also provided for drying paraffinic feed or recycle hydrocarbon streams in a reactor system comprising contacting the feed or recycle hydrocarbon streams with spent sulfuric acid, whereby the feed or recycle streams are dried and whereby a portion of the sulfuric acid esters in the spent acid are converted to sulfuric acid and alkylate. The alkylate produced is extracted into the hydrocarbon phase and returns to the reactor system.