Alkylation

  • The combination of olefins with paraffins or aromatics to form higher isoparaffins is termed alkylation. The product is called alkylate.

  • Alkylates are the best of all possible motor fuels, having both excellent stability and a high octane number. They have: high octane (92–94), and very small contents of olefins, aromatics, & sulfur.

  • The alkylation unit uses either sulfuric or hydrofluoric acid as catalyst to react olefins with isobutane to form isoparaffins boiling in the gasoline range.