Catalytic Process for Converting Fuel Gases into Gasoline

70561 Gasoline is the largest volume fuel used in the United States, but only 41% of each barrel of crude oil is converted into gasoline. Various off-gas streams in the refinery contain potentially valuable hydrocarbons that are not economical to recover by traditional means, and, as a result, they are usually burned as an inexpensive refinery fuel. This project will develop a new catalytic process that will convert these hydrocarbons into gasoline blending components. Phase I will screen several catalyst formulations for activity and durability in the new process. Phase II will conduct extensive bench tests and obtain the data necessary for a pilot process in Phase III. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: By converting hydrocarbon off-gases in refineries, approximately 200,000 bbl/day (bpd) of additional gasoline capacity could be achieved in the U.S. alone (worth approximately $1.5 billion annually). Already, several companies in the petroleum refining and process licensing business have expressed interest in the potential of this new technology.