3. Industrial implementation of HF and H2SO4 processes

While the chemical reaction mechanism is complex due to competition between isomerization by carbonium ion rearrangement and hydride transfer, alkylation is further complicated by secondary reactions leading to undesirable products, and by physical phenomena due to the existence of two liquid phases (acid and hydrocarbon) in the reactor.

A large number of studies have been carried out to elucidate the simultaneous influences of physical and chemical phenomena in the overall transformation process: in particular, the roles of agitation and temperature on material transfers and solubilities, and the importance of phase and emulsion characteristics.