Boosting the Octane Number of Gasoline by Natural Gas Concentrated in Methane

Gasoline obtained from the fractionation of indigenous natural gas condensate has a low octane number (78) and is therefore of limited use. Lead-based octane boosting and catalytic reforming are not the viable methods for many fractionation plants. This study was therefore aimed at developing an inexpensive conceptual alternative method for boosting the octane number of gasoline. Natural gas concentrated with methane having a high octane number (more than 100) was dissolved in gasoline to boost the octane number partially (86). Selective additives such as ethanol, tert-butyl alcohol, methylcyclopentane, toluene, iso-octane, and xylene were blended first with the gasoline to aid the dissolution of natural gas molecules. The loss of the absorbed gas molecules from the gasoline with the increase in temperature was also observed, and we found out that it is required to try for avoiding any increase in temperature in the finished gasoline. Moreover, the developed conceptual method is promising. Finally, the findings of this simulation study can be useful for further research into the development of an affordable alternative method for fractionation plants for boosting the octane number of the gasoline derived from natural gas condensate.