Abstract:
The hydroisomerizationof light paraffins is an important industrial process to obtain branched alkanes, which are used as octane boosters in gasoline. The Sudanese light naphtha (Produced in kartoum Refinery) was chosen as the case study in this paper. The aims of this study were investigate the production of isomers with high octane numbers and reduce the content of benzene. TypeGamma AluminaImproved Pt./H-γAl2O3, of catalysts was prepared, with 0.5wt% (H2PtCl6.6H2O) by impregnation method. The hydroisomerization unit was constructed from copper blossom and designed to carry out the hydroisomerization process. The fixed bed reactor dimensions were O.D 3.5cm, I.D 1cm,reactor total volume 22.765 cm3 and 30cm length. All experiments were made at atmospheric pressure and a reaction temperature of 160°C. The results show that the conversion of the main light naphtha components to (Isobutane, n-C4, Neopentane, Isopentane, n-C5, 2,2DMC4, 2MC5, 3MC5, CC6), at 160°C has increased. Also, it was noted that the selectivity to isomers increasedat a temperature of 160°C and the aromatic component was converted to cyclohexane.The original light naphtha gives a Research Octane Number (RON 67.49) andlight naphtha overPt/H-γ Al2O3catalyst givea Research
