Benzene reduction in gasoline by alkylation with olefins: Effect of the experimental conditions on the product selectivity Original Research Article

The production of a more environmentally friendly gasoline by removing substantial portions of benzene by alkylation with propylene was studied. One step experiments were performed with a real feedstock (20 wt% benzene) varying temperatures (120, 180, 220 and 320 °C) and benzene/propylene molar ratios (1, 2, 3, 5 and 7) in a batch system using Beta zeolite as catalyst. The highest benzene content reduction (52%) was achieved at 220 °C and B/P of 1, although the preferred i-propylbenzene production was attached to high molecular weight poly-alkylated by-products and olefin oligomers, which can trigger catalyst deactivation. The effect of this procedure on the reformation gasoline and on the final gasoline blendstock is also presented.