Heavy gasoline treating

Consequently, an exploratory program was undertaken to see if this specification could be met by addition of a simple gasoline treating step. In a short time, a heavy gasoline treating (HGT) technology evolved. With the HGT, durene levels even higher than 5 wt% could be treated down to the 2% level. 

This term is used to describe oils that have a flash point above ambient temperature. They will therefore not burn or explode at ambient temperature but will do so when hot. Unfortunately many people do not realize this and treat heavy oils with a disrespect that they would never apply to gasoline, as shown by the incidents described below. Another incident was described in Section 12.2 (c). Heavy oils are widely used as fuel oils, solvents, lubricants, and heat transfer oils, as well as process materials. 

Compounds with a Henry s law constant greater than 0.01 or that exhibit vapor pressure greater than 0.5 mmHg (0.02 in Hg) can be successfully treated by in situ SVE. For example, solvents such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) and most constituents in gasoline can be effectively removed by this technology. On the other hand, SVE will not remove heavy oils, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), or dioxins. 

Drivers for investment are directly linked to market demand. In the European Union, gasoline demand is declining, whereas demand for diesel is increasing with modest increases for treating gas oil. Heavy fuel oil demand is also declining. Under such market forces, the E.U. product market is shifting and demand for middle distillates is increasing from 310 million tons (310 MMt) in 1997 to 390 MMt in 2015.15 Production of LPG, naphtha, and other products is expected to increase.15... 

Activated charcoal and/or emesis may be indicated in some hydrocarbon ingestions in which absorption may produce systemic effects. Agents such as asphalt, tar, heavy lubricants, vaseline, and mineral oil are considered relatively nontoxic and do not require removal. Chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents or any hydrocarbon or petroleum distillate with a potentially dangerous additive (camphor, pesticide, and heavy metals) in some cases may be treated with activated charcoal or emesis. Petroleum naphtha derivatives, gasoline, kerosene, and mineral seal oil (or signal oil) as found in furniture polish and oil polishes produce severe and often prolonged chemical pneumonitis. These compounds are poorly... 

Exploratory research showed that treating a heavy MTG gasoline fraction could reduce durene levels sufficiently to meet the specification. Subsequent process development in isothermal and adiabatic bench-scale units confirmed this. 

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