Possibility of synthesis of high-octane components of motor fuels via oxidation of the industrial isobutane fraction

Abstract

The necessity of deep conversion of heavy oil gives rise to an increase in the production of hydrocarbon gases. The formed butanes are not always marketable. In the paper, the possibility of the production of high-octane oxygenate mixture via oxidation of the industrial isobutene fraction is discussed. The reaction was conducted in the absence and in the presence of catalysts such as Au/Silicalite-1 and Cu/SiO 2 . The factors were studied that allowed the formation of undesirable impurities (hydroperoxides, peroxides, acids) to be minimized. The target product was tert-butyl alcohol (TBA); it was produced at the selectivity of 64–69 % at the butane conversion of 55–69 %. RON number of TBA is 113. Along with TBA, alcohols and ketones with RON 106–115 were produced. The best result was obtained with the Cu/SiO 2 ; in the presence of this catalyst the yield of TBA was 18 % higher and the yield of ketones was as high as 2.9 times of the yields obtained by the noncatalytic reaction. The total yield of products to be used as high-octane reached 40 g/L·h, while RON was ca. 111 of this mixture. The mixture of TBA-based oxygenates are less volatile than methyl-tert-butyl alcohol that is of particular importance to provide gasoline stability in summertime.