Isomerization – Industrial

Abstract The industrial practice of isomerization of hydrocarbons is discussed, with focus on economic motivation, selection of catalysts, processing conditions, and industrial process configurations. The three examples covered are light paraffin isomerization for motor fuel production, isomerization of aromatics for petrochemical production, and olefin isomerization for ether production. Light paraffin isomerization converts less‐branched species of pentanes and hexanes to more‐branched species, which improves the octane number of this material. This high octane product is blended into gasoline. Xylene isomerization allows a petrochemical producer to optimize the production of basic petrochemical intermediates. Often the focus is on para ‐xylene production. Olefin isomerization produces the building blocks of ethers, added to clean‐burning motor fuels. Conversion to desired isomers is often equilibrium‐limited. The coupling of separation technology with isomerization reaction technology can overcome equilibrium limitations, allowing high conversion to desired isomers.