Patent ID: 8163969

Claim:
A process for alkylating hydrocarbons wherein an alkylatable organic compound comprising isobutane is reacted with an alkylation agent comprising butenes or a mixture of butenes to form an alkylate in the presence of a catalyst comprising Y zeolite, a hydrogenating function metal comprising platinum, palladium, or a mixture thereof, and a rare-earth containing solid acid constituent, with the catalyst being subjected intermittently to a regeneration step by being contacted with a feed containing a saturated hydrocarbon and hydrogen, said regeneration being carried out at 90% or less of the active cycle of the catalyst, with the active cycle of the catalyst being defined as the time from the start of the feeding of the alkylation agent to the moment when, in comparison with the entrance of the catalyst-containing reactor section, 20% of the alkylation agent leaves the catalyst-containing reactor section without being converted, not counting isomerization inside the molecule, wherein said catalyst is regenerated before there is any substantial decrease of activity of said catalyst.