An improvement in the alkylation of olefins with isoalkanes in the
presence of sulfuric acid wherein the sulfuric acid is removed from the
product by a mechanical coalescer means prior to fractionation. No water
wash or caustic treatment is required. Any sulfonates or sulfonic esters
are removed by hydrodesulfurization or decomposition catalyst in a
separate reactor or in either the deisobutanizer (DIB) or debutanizer
(DB) column.