PARAFFIN ISOMERIZATION INNOVATIONS

The use of paraffin isomerization depends to a large extent on the nee ds of an individual refinery. The level of octane desired, optimizatio n with other octane producers, and regulatory issues all need to be co nsidered. The recent developmental thrust in both Penex and TIP techno logies in the recent past has been to reduce costs. The HOT design in Penex has resulted in cost savings of 20%. This concept has also been extended to Butamer technology. The use of the TIP-SafeCat system dram atically reduces the cost of upgrading sulfur-containing light naphtha . Overall, isomerization offers the lowest cost method of octane-barre l production.