Enhancement of Sudan Gasoline Octane Number by Natural and Synthetic Zeolites

Abstract

Gasoline is one of the most important sources of energy in the life but when manufacture with low octane number may leave a great risk that affect the human health and environment impact. So that the processes of gasoline production must be developed. Zeolite material, dependence on their extremely high frame work ,extended interactive surface , ability to interact with molecules and cations . Show awide variety of interesting properties which result in remarkable applications in the fields of catalysts, gas separation, selective adsorption and water softening. The natural zeolites are materials with their properties ( that in some cases are even unique ) or super than those obtained by synthetic . The zeolite catalyst loaded with finely dispersed noble metal (Pt) have been used in hydrogenation , hydrocracking , hydroiosmerization and the oxidation of hydrocarbons . The sample of natural zeolite were collected from two areas in Sudan the (zk-5) from Nouba mountains and scolecite from Buada desert . And the third one is synthestic zeolite (Y) . To characterized by using thin sections, Atomic absorption , x- ray diffraction (XRD) ,inferared spectroscopy (FTIR), acidity measured by pyridine FTIR , scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal analysis by two methods DSC,TGA,TPR and measured surface area of zeolite Y by BET. III The study of octane number was carried out for one natural zeolite (scolecite) and one synthetic zeolite (Y) and their modification by two methods impregenation and ion exchange using ammonium chloride and platinum hydrochloride H2PtCl6 . The Naphtha was obtained from the refinery of Khartoum Company (it has octane number40) . Piona of naphtha was studied by GC . The natural and synthetic zeolites modification was applied on reforming process to increase the gasoline octane number . The study carried out fourteen experiments for each kind of zeolite with a variety of reactions conditions like liquid hour space velocity (LHSV) , pressure and temperature , the optimal experiments with suitable conditions gave good results .Octane number increased in pressure rang 8-12 bar , liquid hour space velocity 2 and temperature 480- 5000C . The synthetic zeolite (Y) raised the octane number from (40 to 93.5) . The natural zeolite (scolecite) also showed good properties and increased the octane number from (40 to 87.9) . it need more purification and modification to reach the synthetic. The study explained that the two zeolites (natural , synthetic) are successful for application in reforming process.