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8365818 
Meetings & Symposia 
Shell's liquid-phase Isomerization process for C 4 /C e fractions 
Ruedisulj, WMJ; Evans, HD; Fountain, EB 
1963 
Energy Institute 
6th World Petroleum Congress, WPC 1963 
1963-June 
1-15 
English 
Certain isoparaffins in the C 5 -C 8 range, e.g., isopentane, double-branched isohexanes, and C 7 and C 8 alkylate, are highly desirable components in high octane gasolines, particularly because of their superior octane ratings in comparison with conventional paraffinic refinery streams, such as straight-run tops and light platformates. An added advantage of the use of these high octane isoparaffins is their beneficial effect on gasoline road performance. The Shell Liquid Phase Isomerization (LPI) process allows refineries to take full advantage of the use of isopentane and isohexanes in motor gasoline blends. The LPI process has been applied commercially for butane and pentane isomerization. Pilot plant studies have indicated that it is equally effective for isomerizing hexanes or mixed feeds. In each case, a close approach to thermodynamic equilibrium, at liquid product yields exceeding 100 vol% can be achieved. This paper describes the LPI process as applied to the various feedstocks, presenting conversion, yield, and operating data. The incentives for producing isomerizates containing high concentrations of the desired isoparaffins are demonstrated. A novel isomerization/fractionation line-up for recycle operation is described, which is economically more attractive than the conventional arrangement of these facilities at the high conversion levels possible in the LPI process. The octane improvement potential of C 5 /C 6 isomerization is also discussed.