Gasoline components

Motor fuel alkylation in the petroleum refining industry refers to the acid catalyzed conversion of C₃-C₅ olefins with isobutane into highly branched C₅-C1₂ isoparaffins collectively called alkylate, a valuable gasoline blending component. A major constituent of alkylate is 2,2,4-trimethyl pentane which is defined as 100 on the octane scale.

Alkylation reactions are catalyzed by liquid and solid acids, including H₂SO₄, AlCl₃- HCl, HF, HF-BF₃, H₂SO₄-HSO₃F (Fluorosulfuric acid), Trifluoromethane sulfonic acid chlorided Pt alumina, BF₃ on alumina, zeolites, and ion exchange resins. However, the catalysts and associated processes commercialized during WWII for aviation gasoline, HF alkylation, and sulfuric acid alkylation, are the focus of this section as these remain the primary commercial motor fuel alkylation processes.Asolid catalyst alkylation process (UOP Alkylene⁻) has been developed and is being offered to the industry.