Gasoline continued reformulated

The reduction in the lead content of gasoline and the introduction of reformulated gasoline have been very successful in reducing automobile emissions, due to changes in gasoline composition, with further improvements in fuel quality proposed for the early decades of this new millennium. These projections are accompanied by a noticeable and measurable decrease in crude oil quality, and the reformulated gasoline will help meet environmental regulations for emissions for liquid fuels but will be subject to continuous review because of the potential for environmental impact. 

Another issue with the M85 FFV was that while its principal focus was on the reduction of local pollutants, continuing improvement in conventional gasoline ICEs, coupled with the introduction of California Phase II reformulated gasoline in 1996, demonstrated that similar or stricter emissions performance could be achieved by gasoline powered vehicles. 

Iso-butane is a highly demanded chemical in the refinery industry for the production of alkylates (by alkylation with butenes), and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) (from isobutene and methanol), both important additives for reformulated gasolines. n-Butane isomerization is performed over platinum supported on chlorinated alumina. The chlorine compound which is continuously supplied to the feed in order to maintain the activity [1] is harmful to the environment. 

The FCC process has been upgraded continuously since it was introduced in 1942. Two of the original three units built by Standard Oil of New Jersey at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1942-1943 were still operating well after 1992. Combined production of PCLA 2 and 3 had been increased from 34,000 bpd of gas oil in 1943 to 188,000 bpd in 1992. PCLA 1 was dismantled in 1963 after expansion of the original 15,000 bpd capacity to 41,000 bpd. Many similar successful improvements have been made at other refineries. Table 5.15 shows how the developments in the FCC process and catalysts made this possible. It was a dynamic and flexible process. Further demands were made when reformulated gasoline was introduced, first in the United States and then in other parts of the world. 

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