TITLE: Catalytic Conversion of C sub 3 -C sub 4 Paraffins to Gasoline.

AUTHOR: R. F. Batchelder;   H. W. Pennline;   R. R. Schehl;   D. H. Finseth.

INST.  AUTHOR: Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  Dec 84,  40p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE85004181/INW

ABSTRACT:

The reaction of propane and butane to form gasoline-range hydrocarbons in a single-step catalytic process has been investigated in a tubular packed-bed reactor maintained at near isothermal conditions. Three catalyst systems were studied: a zeolite, ZSM-5; a dehydrogenation catalyst, chromia-alumina; and a 50:50 mixture by weight of the previous two catalysts. The effects of process parameters on the catalyst activity and product selectivity were determined. It was found that ZSM-5 alone will convert propane or butane to gasoline-range products over a temperaure range of 350 exp 0 to 540 exp 0 C. The reaction of butane over ZSM-5 results in a large selectivity to propane (30 to 70 weight percent) depending on the temperature. The addition of chromia-alumina to ZSM-5 increased the first-order rate constant for butane conversion by 60% at 450 exp 0 C. The addition of chromia-alumina to ZSM-5 also increased the C/sub 5+/ selectivity for butane conversion by 30% at 540 exp 0 C. The addition of chromia-alumina to ZSM-5 had little effect on the rate of propane conversion, but it did increase the C/sub 5+/ selectivity for propane conversion by over 100% at 540 exp 0 C. The liquid product from alkane conversion was highly aromatic (>80%) under all conditions tested. 12 references, 8 figures. (ERA citation 10:006549)

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PETC/TR-85/2