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Catalytic Alkylation
• Catalytic process used to upgrade light olefins (from catalytic cracker, cocker and
vis-braker) into highly branched paraffin (Alkylate)

• Alkylate: Blending component for making gasoline

• Reaction of iso-butane with light olefin in presence of an acid catalyst

• Some impurities in feed (e.g. mercaptans, butadiene, etc.) form acid soluble
compounds and increase acid make-up requirements.

• Reaction scheme

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• Similar reactions can be see with other olefins.

• Undesirable reactions

H2SO4 Alkylation Process-Time Tank Process

• Chillers used for removal heat of
reactions

• Average hydrocarbon residence

time = 20-30 Min.

• Caustic and water wash: to remove

acid and ester in hydrocarbon phase

• Circulation time: 1-2 Min.

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Catalytic Isomerization Process

• Used to convert n-butane to i-butane, which may be further alkylate to liquid
hydrocarbons in range of gasoline

• Also used to convert relatively low octane parffins (mostly C5 and C6) into more
desirable isoparaffins which have higher octane number

• Mild exothermic reactions

• Reaction in hydrogen environment to prevent coke formation over catalyst

UOP Butamer Isomerization Process

• One type of catalytic

isomerization process

• Feed: Mixed butane

• Pt catalyst reactor

• Dissolved gases and

break down products
separation in stabilizer

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Catalytic Polymerization
• Process in which two or more molecules combine to produce single larger molecule

• Used to convert light olefins (e.g. propene and butene) into high octane number
gasoline component (Polymer gasoline)

• Can also be used for alkylation of aromatics with olefins to form cumene, ethyl
benzene, etc.

• Most often carried out in presence of solid phosphoric acid supported on kieselguhr

• Impurities such as sulphur compounds and ammonia present in feed, are to be

removed out by washing with alkanol-amines

• Exothermic reaction

• Scheme for dimerization (Polymerization) of propene

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• Water injection at feed to

maintain hydration of
phosphoric acid catalyst

• Increase of reactor
temperature above 200°C
promote formation of di-
olefins and deactivation
of catalyst

• Injection of cold propane

as quench in reactor

Figure: UOP catalytic polymerization process

Thanks