Reformulated fuels

Optimum performance and reliability of FCC units will play an important role in the competitiveness and survival of refineries. The FCC has proven to be a versatile process, changing to meet the needs and demands of refiners. As one of the most efficient conversion processes in the refinery, it will continue to play a key role in meeting future reformulated fuel demands. 

As of November 1, 1992, all gasoline sold in the 39 CO nonattainment areas contained 2.7 wt% oxygen during the winter months. Beginning January 1, 1995, regulations mandated that gasoline sold in the nine worst ozone non-attainment areas contain at least 2.0 wt% oxygen and not more than 1 vol% benzene and 25 vol% total aromatics. Other cities that have had mobile source emission problems can optin voluntarily to the use of reformulated fuels. 

The Changing Role of the Hydrocracker in a Reformulated Fuels Environment... 

The world energy crisis of the 1970s, however, spurred interest once again in ethanol as a transportation fuel source. Brazil adopted the widespread production and use of Alcool, hydrated ethanol, and Gasolina a 78 22 ratio blend of gasoline ethanol as a motor fuel. Other countries developed policies to maintain a fuel grade ethanol industry by conversion of biomass. Also, clean air and reformulated fuel policies have helped to promote the use of ethanol as a viable alternative fuel. 

Kulakowsky M, Reformulated Gasoline Defining the Challenge, ACS Symposium on the Impact of Reformulated Fuels, ACS Division Petr. Chem. Prepr., 39 494, 1994. 

Indoor and ambient air samples were measured from December 1992 to February 1993 by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (Gordian and Guay 1995). Concentration levels for methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), benzene, and formaldehyde were measured in ambient and indoor air samples. Blood samples were also taken from service station workers at the same time period. Blood samples from workers showed an increase of 300% in blood benzene concentrations after MTBE reformulated fuel was discontinued. Gasoline in Alaska has a benzene concentration of 5% (average U.S. national concentration is 1.5%). 

In an effort to reduce emissions from mobile sources to help address acute ozone nonattainment problems, the State of California adopted a Low Emission Vehicle/Clean Fuel program in 1990. Low Emission Vehicles, or LEVs, are designed to meet significantly stricter HC, CO and NOx standards than vehicles sold in the remainder of the U.S., and are designed to operate on a strictly controlled reformulated fuel to achieve low emissions over the vehicle s lifetime. One of the characteristics of this fuel is a low sulfur content, which averages 30-40 ppm or less. Data provided by the Auto Oil Air Quality Research Program and other studies were instrumental in the development of the low emission properties of this fuel, and vehicle manufacturers now use this fuel in the development, calibration, and certification process for Low Emission Vehicles sold in California. 

One of the most important goals of the chemical industry with respect to environmental issues is a reduction in the use of toxic materials and in the amount of waste generated. Industrial development of nonphosgene route to DMC production has resulted in DMC playing a significant role as a nontoxic versatile chemical and as a component of reformulated fuels. It is expected that the future will show a growing expansion of the current and new DMC applications. 

The sunlight driven complex reactions involving VOCs and oxides of nitrogen (NO ) are responsible for atmospheric ozone formation. The purpose of using reformulated fuels is to reduce both ozone-forming VOC emissions and air toxic emissions from vehicles. The key constraints that are introduced by Phase I in 1995 and II in 2000 are reduction in VOCs, NO and toxics. While each of theses variables has complex... 

Fortum manufactures petroleum products for use in traffic, heating, industry, agriculture and energy generation. Additionally, Fortum manufactures methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in Finland, Portugal, Canada and Saudi Arabia and tertiary-amyl methyl ether (TAME) at its Porvoo refinery. MTBE and TAME are essential components in reformulated gasoline. Fortum is the leading producer of reformulated fuels in northern Europe. 

DMC has been proposed as a non-toxic, non-polluting solvent (2). It is being considered as a component of reformulated fuels, owing to its high oxygen content and good blending properties (3-4). 

Because of the expanding role of alkylate in reformulated fuels, new developments are currently being pursued. This includes more stable, solid alkylation catalysts, improved liquid catalysts and two stage processes which produce higher octane product (Albright, 1990). 

This practice is applicable to the sampling, mixing, and handling of reformulated fuels including those containing oxygenates. 

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