AlkyClean alkylation process technologies

D Amico, V. et al. (2006) The AlkyClean alkylation process - new technology eliminates liquid acids. NPRA Spring 2006 Meeting, paper AM-06-41. 

In 1999, Akzo Nobel (which later sold its catalyst division to Albemarle) patented a new technology for alkylating hydrocarbons based on a zeolite acid catalyst [193]. This new process, AlkyClean, was then designed by ABB Lummus and Albemarle, and a 10 barrels per stream day (BPSD) demonstration unit came online in Finland in 2002. AlkyClean produces a high-quality sulfur-free alkylate (96 octane), eliminating all the drawbacks of the liquid acid catalyst technologies. There are no add-soluble oil waste streams, the reactor operates at 50-90 °C, and the catalyst is a solid, noncorrosive material, which is easily transported and stored. 

Similarly, after blending about 30vol.% of propylene with cis-2-butene, the RON loss was less than 1 number. With H2SO4 alkylation, similar amounts of propylene would lead to a RON about 1.5 lower. Table 12.10 summarizes the estimated impact of feedstock variation on RON relative to a pure cis-2-butene feedstock for the AlkyClean process and liquid acid technologies. Based on these results, it can be concluded that our new SAC technology is less sensitive to feedstock variation regarding product quality than either liquid acid technology. 

D Amico, V.J. et al. (2002) The AlkyClean process a new solid add catalyst gasoline alkylation technology. 

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