Trimethylpentanes thermodynamic equilibrium

The reactor temperature required to prevent coke formation varies considerably for the different processes. Table 2.1 summarizes the values calculated assuming thermodynamic equilibrium for 2,2,4-trimethylpentane reforming. Generally, the coking tendency increases in the following order at constant O/C ratio SR > ATR > POx. These calculations demonstrate that at steam to carbon ratios (S/C) > 2 and reaction temperatures > 600 °C, which is very common for hydrocarbon fuel processors, coke seems to be an unstable species especially under the conditions of steam reforming. 

When alkylating isobutane, chain tennination forms primarily, but not entirely, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane the alkylate from chain termination very closely resembles isobutene alkylate. The similarity of alkylate compositions, particularly their C0 fractions, originating from various olefins and the distance from thermodynamic equilibrium composition indicates that alkylate molecules, once formed, are relatively stable under alkylation conditions and undergo little isomerization. Undesirable side products, e.g., dimethylhexanes and residue, are probably formed by buter e isomerization and polymerization (rather than by isomerization of alkylate or by isomerization of the C3 carbonium Ion which subsequently becomes alkylate). 

The following facts are the basis for butene isomerization (I) There is a basic similarity in the composition of alkylates produced from all four butene isomers. (2) Alkylate molecules, once formed, are relatively stable under alkylation conditions and do not isomerize to any appreciable extent alkylate fractions having the same carbon number ore not equilibrated (see Table I). (3) Thermodynamic equilibrium between the butene olefins highly favors isobutene formation at alkylation temperatures. (4) Normal butenes p>roduce only small and variable amounts of normal butane, thus indicating only a small and variable amount of chain initiation from normal butenes. Yet the alkylate composition shows a high concentration of trimethylpentanes and a low concentration of dimethylhexanes. (5) A few of the octane isomers can be explai.ned only by isomerization of the eight-carbon skeletal structure this isomerization occurs while isobutene dimer is in ionic form. For example, 2,3,3- and 2,3,4-trimethylpentanes... 

Table 12.3 summarizes the typical products obtained in H2SO4 and HF processes. One key observation is that trimethylpentanes/dimethylhexanes (TMP/DMH) formation is far from thermodynamic equilibrium, a desirable factor given the octane spread - TMPs have RON numbers of 100 and higher, DMHs about 50-60. The various products formed are present for all feeds, catalysts and process conditions, only in different proportions. 

The following is an example of an alkylation reaction that is important in the production of isooctane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane) from two components of crude oil isobutane and isobutene. Isooctane is an antiknock additive for gasoline. The thermodynamic equilibrium constant, K, for this reaction at 25°C is 4.3 X 10, and AH°is -78.58 kj/mol. 

The distributions of products within a certain carbon number fraction are far from equilibrium. In the Cg-fraction, for example, the dimethylhexanes would be thermodynamically favored over the trimethylpentanes, but the latter are predominant. The distribution within the trimethylpentanes is also not equilibrated. 2,2,4-TMP would prevail at equilibrium over the other TMPs, constituting 60-70% of the product, depending on the temperature. Furthermore, 2,2,3-TMP as the primary product is found in less than equilibrium amounts. Qualitatively, the same statement is valid for the other carbon number distributions. Products with a tertiary carbon atom in the 2-position dominate over other isomers in all fractions. 

Battino, R. Thermodynamics of binary solutions of nonelectrolytes with 2,2,4-trimethylpentane. I. Volume of mixing (25.deg.) and vapor-liquid equilibrium (35-75.deg.) with cyclohexane J. Phys. Chem. 1966, 70,3408-3416... 

Browarzik et al calculated asphaltenes flocculation at high pressures for methane + crude oil - - 2,2,4-trimethylpentane [i-octane] using continuous thermodynamics where 2,2,4-trimethylpentane acts as a precipitant. The asphaltene flocculation was considered to be a liquid -b liquid equilibrium. Browarzik et al applied the van der Waals equation of state. The polydispersity of the crude oil was considered to be described by the solubility parameter of the Scatchard-Hildebrand theory. Within this distribution the asphaltenes represent the species with the highest solubility parameters. The calculated results were compared to experimental data. For oils with a very low content of asphaltenes the model describes the experimental flocculation data reasonably well. However, on contrary to the experimental results, the model predicts the asphaltenes to show a higher flocculation tendency with increasing asphaltenes content of the crude oil. Based on these comparisons further work was undertaken by Browarzik et al and the associates formed... 

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