Abstract
This chapter explores catalytic reforming and isomerization. Catalytic reforming of heavy naphtha and isomerization of light naphtha constitute a very important source of products having high octane numbers, which are key components in the production of gasoline. Environmental regulations limit on the benzene content in gasoline. If benzene is present in the final gasoline it produces carcinogenic material on combustion. Elimination of benzene forming hydrocarbons, such as hexane will prevent the formation of benzene, and this can be achieved by increasing the initial point of heavy naphtha. These light paraffinic hydrocarbons can be used in an isomerization unit to produce high octane number isomers. Catalytic reforming is the process of transforming C7–C10 hydrocarbons with low octane numbers to aromatics and iso-paraffins which have high octane numbers. It is a highly endothermic process requiring large amounts of energy. The process can be operated in two modes: a high severity mode to produce mainly aromatics (80–90 vol%) and a middle severity mode to produce high octane gasoline (70% aromatics content). Isomerization is a mildly exothermic reaction and leads to the increase of an octane number. It is a process in which light straight chain paraffins of low RON (C6, C5, and C4) are transformed with proper catalyst into branched chains with the same carbon number and high octane numbers.
Published Version
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