Because of its clean-fuel properties (paraffinic, high octane, low vapor pressure and very low sulfur), alkylate is considered one of the most desired components in the gasoline pool. Because of its clean-fuel properties (paraffinic, high octane, low vapor pressure and very low sulfur), alkylate is considered one of the most desired components in the gasoline pool. As mandates for cleaner-burning fuel in the US and abroad have started to become fully realized, refiners are relying more than ever on alkylate to meet stringent gasoline specifications. With increasing pressure to reduce tailpipe emissions, the rapid decline of diesel in Europe and the modernization of automobiles worldwide, alkylate is well-positioned to be in steady demand for decades to come. Most alkylate is produced in refineries by combining C3–C5 light olefins from the fluid catalytic cracking unit (F Log in to view this article.Not Yet A Subscriber? Here are Your Options. 1) Start a FREE TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION and gain access to all articles in the current issue of Hydrocarbon Processing magazine. 2) SUBSCRIBE to Hydrocarbon Processing magazine in print or digital format and gain ACCESS to the current issue as well as to 3 articles from the HP archives per month. $399 for an annual subscription*.3) Start a FULL ACCESS PLAN SUBSCRIPTION and regain ACCESS to this article, the current issue, all past issues in the HP Archive, the HP Process Handbooks, HP Market Data, and more. $1,995 for an annual subscription. For information about group rates or multi-year terms, contact J'Nette Davis-Nichols at Jnette.Davis-Nichols@GulfEnergyInfo.com or +1 713.520.4426*.
The clean fuel alkylate could become a widespread alternative to diesel, thanks to the development of a safer hydrofluoric acid ( HF ) alkylation conversion process. The fuel, a type of petrol, could help meet increasingly stringent emissions standards. Scientists at US chemicals giant HF have devised a cost-effective reactor design that replaces HF alkylation units with sulphuric acid alkylation units, sulphuric acid being a safer option than the more volatile DuPont . In the US , there are approximately half alkylation units in use with around 100 using HF alkylation technology that could be converted to sulphuric acid alkylation.