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Benzene Saturation Technology - GT-BenZap®

GTC's process know-how can meet refiner's needs by providing a variety of cost effective solutions, ranging from aromatics extraction to catalytic hydrogenation for benzene management in gasoline-bound streams.  GT-BenZap is suggested for refineries limited by economies of scale required for benzene extraction or for units located in remote areas away from benzene consumers.  When implementing GT-BenZap GTC's experts simulate the existing process and provide custom integration with the refiner's existing units for effective benzene management. 
 

Process Description

GTC's GT-BenZap process features a reliable traditional design paired with a proven active hydrogenation  catalyst.  The process consists of hydrotreating a narrow-cut C6 fraction, which is separated from the full-range reformate to saturate the benzene component into cyclohexane.  The reformate is first fed to a reformate splitter, where the C6 heart cut is separated as a side-draw fraction while the C7+ cut and the C5- light fraction are removed as bottom and top products of the column.
 
The C6 olefins present in the C6 cut are also hydrogenated to paraffins while the C5- olefins removed at the top of the splitter are not, thus preserving the octane number.  The hydrogenated C6 fraction from the reactor outlet is sent to a stabilizer column where the remaining hydrogen and lights are removed overhead.  The C5- cut, produced from the splitter overhead, is recombined with the hydrogenated C6 cut within the GT-BenZap process in a unique manner that reduces energy consumption and capital equipment cost.  The light reformate is mixed with the C7+ cut from the splitter column and together form the full-range reformate, which is low in benzene.  GTC also offers a modular construction option and the possibility to reuse existing equipment. 
 

Process Advantages

  • Simple process to hydrogenate benzene and remove it from gasoline
  • Reliable technology that uses an isolated hydrogenation reactor
  • Reduces benzene in reformate streams by over 99.9%
  • Minimal impact to hydrogen balance and octane loss  
 
Please contact us to learn more about our benzene saturation technology.