(90e) AlkyleneTM - Improved Solid Catalyst Alkylation Technology for Clean Fuels

Legislated changes in gasoline specifications throughout the world indicate the importance of alkylate as a blending component in today's gasoline pool. Reductions in total aromatics, benzene, vapor pressure, oxygenates, olefins, sulfur, and distillation endpoint collectively affect every major gasoline pool blending component except alkylate. Because of its high octane and paraffinic nature, alkylate is an ideal blendstock for any gasoline pool requirement.

Although liquid acid alkylation technologies have historically been safe, reliable and economical process operations, they are coming under increasing scrutiny due to environmental concerns. UOP's Alkylene^TM process overcomes the environmental concerns involved with handling liquid acids by using truly solid alkylation catalyst. The performance characteristics of this solid catalyst are combined with a unique liquid riser reactor design to yield a technology that is both reliable and economically competitive with traditional liquid acid alkylation processes.

Development of the Alkylene^TM process began in 1995, and proceeded through a variety of reactor systems (fixed bed, recycled bed, swing bed) before evolving to the current liquid riser process, which provides advantages in catalyst utilization and regeneration over competing reactor systems. UOP is currently working with a commercial customer on the design of the first commercial Alkylene^TM unit. This paper will trace the development of the Alkylene^TM process in the context of the many technical challenges involved in the development of the catalyst and reactor system.