Russia created AI-92, AI-95 and AI-98 brands of gasoline from by-products of gas production, which is of high quality and low cost. Specialists of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) were engaged in the development.

The authors claim that the new technology will make it possible for the oil and gas producing companies to switch over to self-sufficiency in fuel.

The scientists used stable gas condensates (SGC) as the initial raw material, which is a by-product of natural gas treatment. At most fields they are blended with oil to improve its flowability and make it easier to transport.

Scientists from Tomsk State University stated that such condensates are a valuable hydrocarbon feedstock which can be processed into high-octane gasoline components using a zeolite catalyst.

Studies conducted by chemists have shown that processing increases the octane number of SGC by an average of 18 points, in other words, it actually makes it possible to obtain AI-80 gasoline in a single technological stage. In addition, the scientists have suggested blending formulations for commercial gasoline brands AI-92, AI-95, AI-98 based on the products of SGC processing.

Maria Kirgina, Associate Professor of the TPU Department of Chemical Engineering, said that the scientists were able to determine the areas of hydrocarbon transformations that are present in SGC and determine the impact of processing parameters on the composition and characteristics of the products obtained. Thus, according to her, it will be possible to select optimal parameters in order to use condensates of diverse composition most efficiently.

If the new technology is applied, production enterprises will be able to produce fuel for their own needs and supply it to specific territories. Its delivery to remote enterprises considerably increases the price for the product, therefore, the possibility to move to autonomy will be relevant for some regions of the world, say the scientists. They cite as an example the Russian North, where a large number of mining companies operate.

The refining process itself does not require hydrogen-containing gas and special preparation of raw materials, so it can be implemented even in a low-tonnage version outside large refineries.

The advantage of the development is the use of zeolite. It is an inexpensive mineral without noble metals and at the same time it is resistant to catalytic poisons. In proposed work SGC has been processed for the first time on zeolite of structural type ZSM-5.

The next stage will be the creation of a mathematical model to predict precisely the composition and characteristics of the resulting products, the chemists said.

Made in Russia // Made in Russia

Author: Ksenia Gustova