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2118148 
Book/Book Chapter 
With MTBE Gone, Isooctane and Isooctene Production May Rise 
Haldis, P 
2007 
Hart Energy Publishing, LP 
25 
42 (Oct 24 
n/a 
With no market for MTBE in the U.S., refiners could decide to use the isobutylene previously used to make MTBE for other gasoline blending components. Three such products are alkylate, a moderate-to-high octane gasoline blend stock; isooctane, a high octane (100 octane) blendstock; and isooctene, which has a slightly higher octane level than isooctane. According to U.S. EPA's Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Renewable Fuel Standard Program, released in 2006, alkylate is the most cost-effective way for refiners to reuse isobutylene, even when isooctane and isooctene's higher octane rating is taken into account. Therefore, EPA expects that most MTBE units within or adjacent to refineries will be converted to produce alkylate, as will most ethylene cracker plants. Valero recently converted its MTBE production at its Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery to isooctene. The refinery has an 11,500 b/d isooctene unit. The company has also installed a 2,000 b/d isooctene unit at its McKee refinery in Texas and at 13,000 b/d isooctene/alkylation unit at its Houston refinery. 
United States; US; MTBE; Refineries; Conferences; 2007)