Mogas production

Mogas production (BenzOUT™)

The BenzOUT process is a commercially proven technology for benzene reduction in gasoline. BenzOUT converts benzene, typically in a light reformate stream, to higher alkylaromatic blending components by reacting a benzene rich stream with light olefins, such as a refinery grade propylene stream.

BenzOUT technology avoids octane loss with no hydrogen consumption associated with benzene saturation alternatives by alkylating propylene to the aromatic rich stream. BenzOUT can be a grassroots unit or retrofitted into an existing facility, such as a polygas unit. The technology was developed by ExxonMobil and is available for licensing through TechnipFMC Badger Process Technology to provide a unique process advantage to help refiners meet benzene regulations, while at the same time achieving an attractive economic return on their investment.

Key benefits

BenzOUT technology process configuration

  • Fixed bed catalyst technology. The process uses a fixed bed liquid-phase reactor resulting in low utility requirements.
  • Catalyst. The process utilizes an ExxonMobil proprietary zeolite catalyst.
  • Stabilization. Propane fed to the unit with propylene is removed from the BenzOUT product in a product stabilizer. This can produce a propane product of HD-5 quality. The product from the BenzOUT technology is a light reformate with a reduced RVP.

BenzOUT services include:

  • Initial consultations
  • Development of licensing proposal
  • Basic engineering package, including basic design specification and operating guide
  • Engineering support during FEED and EPC stages
  • Technology transfer, training, catalyst loading and startup support

BenzOUT technology advantages and economical benefits

  • Conversion of 95%+ of the benzene in a reformate stream: highly selective and stable catalyst enabling the process to run at a very high benzene conversion to meet EPA Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) regulations
  • Low temperature liquid phase process
  • Octane increase: 2-3 numbers of (research octane number + motor octane number)/2 gain in a full reformate, depending on the feed composition
  • No hydrogen consumption: refineries could feed all the C8 components (low blending octane values) to the reformer unit to achieve increased hydrogen production and octane gain
  • Gasoline volume swell: upgrading of light olefins and benzene into high-octane alkylaromatic blendstock would also result in a volume swell of the gasoline pool

BenzOUT™ process

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