a process is disclosed for regenerating a spent liquid acid catalyst comprising the steps of : providing a spent liquid acid catalyst comprising hf , sulfolane , and conjunct polymeric byproducts formed during the hf - catalyzed reaction of isoparaffin and olefin to form isoparafinnic alkylate ; providing a finely divided solid sorbent , wherein said solid sorbent preferentially and reversibly sorbs said conjunct polymeric byproducts from a mixture containing hf , sulfolane ; mixing said spent liquid acid catalyst of step with said solid sorbent of step by charging said spent liquid acid catalyst to the driving fluid inlet of an eductor and drawing a stream containing said solid sorbent into said eductor ; holding said mixture of step in contact for time sufficient for said solid sorbent to preferentially sorb at least a portion of said conjunct polymeric byproducts from said spent liquid acid catalyst to produce a conjunct polymer - enriched sorbent and to regenerate said liquid acid catalyst ; and separating said conjunct polymer - enriched sorbent from said regenerated liquid acid catalyst ; soaking said conjunct polymer - enriched sorbent in a solvent to desorb said conjunct polymeric byproducts ; and recycling said solid sorbent to said mixing step .