Start-up and Operation of the First Onpurpose Isooctane Unit at Alberta Envirofuels Inc., Edmonton, Canada

Description:

Environmental issues are threatening the future use of MTBE in gasoline in the United States. In the late 1990’s concerns arose over groundwater and drinking water contamination with MTBE due to leaking gasoline from underground storage tanks and exhaust from two-cycle engines. As a result, the elimination of MTBE in gasoline in California was mandated, and is now set to go into effect by the end of 2003. The U.S. Senate has proposed a similar law, which would eliminate MTBE in the 2006- 2010 timeframe. The possible ban on MTBE prompted AEF in 1999 to look for an alternative to MTBE. This initiative eventually led to the $US 60 million conversion of the Edmonton plant to isooctane production. The facility has started commercial production of isooctane in October 2002. This paper provides the isooctane process overview and chronicles the journey from MTBE to isooctane. In February of 1999 AEF assembled a multidiscipline team to explore alternatives to MTBE. A wide variety of alternatives were considered, and by April 1999, isooctane was put forth as the preferred MTBE replacement. Isooctane is an excellent gasoline blending component with a clear road octane value of 100 and low vapor pressure. It could be produced by reusing much of AEF’s feedstock, product, and production infrastructure. However, once the new product was chosen, there was still a significant challenge to overcome in that no commercial scale isooctane process existed. Several technology licensors were asked to propose technology for isooctane production. AEF team members worked closely with the technology suppliers to ensure a good fit with the existing facility. In February 2000 Neste Engineering’s NExOCTANE technology was selected because it offered the highest product quality and the best catalyst systems. Site construction started in March 2001 and was completed in September of 2002. Isooctane production started in early October 2002. The high quality isooctane product has been well received. Since late 2002 it has been used as a clean burning gasoline component in California.