A new process for 1-butene/isobutane alkylation to yield C8-alkylates is described using binary mixtures of certain acidic imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) and strong acids such as sulfuric or trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid. Equivalent or better conversion (> 95%), C8- alkylates selectivity (> 70%) and trimethylpentane/dimethylhexane selectivity (TMP/DMH> 7) were achieved with the IL/acid mixtures over the pure acids themselves. Six types of ...