Alkylation is a process used to produce highly branched isoparaffins from the reaction of lighter olefins and isobutane in the presence of sulfuric acid as a catalyst. This highly branched isoparaffins is called alkylate – a blending component that constitutes approximately 10% – 15% of the gasoline pool in the U.S. Besides the ability to increase octane and lower Reid vapor pressure (RVP) in the gasoline pool, alkylate also reduce vehicles exhaust emissions with zero olefins, zero aromatics and low sulfur.
