US Patent 7550643 Isobutane alkylation

A method for isobutane alkylation is provided wherein a fixed-bed catalytic alkylation reactor comprises at least one catalytic flow channel. A feed stream comprising a compound to be alkylated admixed with a minor amount of an olefin is introduced into the flow channel wherein the flow channel is of sufficiently long configuration to have a mass-transfer-limiting boundary layer. The feed stream is contacted with a catalyst positioned on an inner surface of the flow channel thereby reacting the compound with the olefinto produce an alkylate product.