Developing a Method for Producing a New Component of Automobile Gasolines on the Basis of a By-Product of Petrochemistry

Abstract

A method of producing a new component of automotive gasoline based on by-products of petrochemicals and oil refining—light-boiling distillates of fractionation of a reaction mixture of synthesis of butyl alcohols (EHIBA) and a hexane fraction of a process of isomerization of light straight-run gasoline (hexane fraction)—is described. Gas-liquid chromatography and coulometric titration have revealed EHIBA to be a mixture of butyl ethers, butyl alcohols, and water and that it can be used as a component of automotive gasoline after the removal of water. The dehydration of EHIBA was carried out by rectification and extraction methods. It has been found that the extraction process has a number of advantages, allowing the efficient separation of water without the impurity of organic compounds. The choice of a selective solvent (hexane fraction) by calculating the phase equilibrium according to the NRTL model made it possible to obtain, as a result of extraction with the subsequent separation of water, a new component of gasoline—the hexane fraction + 10% EHIBA. It is shown that unleaded AI-92-K5 gasoline, obtained with the addition of 8 wt % of the new component, fully complies with the requirements of regulatory documents. Based on laboratory tests to determine the rate of water deposition, a technological calculation of the separator was performed to separate the EHIBA hexane extract and water. The use of coalescing devices to significantly reduce the size of the separator is proposed. According to preliminary estimates, the use of EHIBA (about 250 t/month) as part of the new component will provide an economic effect of about 13 million rubles per year and can be considered a way to increase product margins.