Home – Home – Jornals – Chemistry for Sustainable Development 2024 number 1

Technological parameters for reforming process are chosen and optimised through an increase in temperature at the reactor inlet and increased selection of benzene-containing fraction during catalysate fractionation, which made it possible to obtain the fraction (100-200 °C), a heavy reformate of the required quality in terms of octane number - 99.5/89.5 (determined by the research/motor method, respectively), and use it as a high-octane component in the production of AI-100-K5 gasoline. Relying on the data of mathematical modelling, requirements to minimise energy consumption, and the standards for the content of aromatic hydrocarbons in commercial motor gasoline, it was proposed to increase the feedstock temperature by 1 °C at the inlet to the reformer unit reactors. A formalised scheme of hydrocarbon transformations in the reforming feedstock that occurs with an increase in process temperature is proposed, which explains the qualitative and quantitative changes in the fractional composition of the catalysate. It has been established that an increase in the extraction of benzene-containing fraction makes it possible to reduce the yield of light reformate, increase the octane number, and reduce the mass fraction of benzene to 1.5 wt% in heavy reformate. Using the Aspen PIMS programme software package, the optimal composition of AI-100-K5 gasoline was modelled, including light straight-run naphtha isomerisate, C₄ hydrocarbon fraction raffinate, high-octane gasoline component (alkylate), methyl tert -butyl ether and heavy reformate obtained under the conditions of optimized scheme. The quality of the manufactured pilot batch (MPB) of fuel fully meets the requirements of TR TS 013/2011, STO 44905015-005-2017 and the standards established for the performance properties of AI-100-K5 gasoline, determined by qualification methods and engine-bench tests. The manufactured MPB of motor gasoline AI-100-K5 exhibits improved operational and environmental characteristics, since sulphur content is reduced to 8.0 mg/kg, benzene content to 0.38 vol%, and the volume fraction of aromatic and olefin hydrocarbons to 28.6 and 4.2 vol%, respectively. As a result of motor-bench tests, it is established that AI-100-K5 gasoline has a reduced tendency to form deposits on intake valves and soot in the engine combustion chamber.