The project involved the erection of a new Isomerization Unit to process a mixture of Light Virgin Naphtha and Light Reformate in order to produce benzene with a high level of octane.
The Isomerization Unit erected on a site of approximately 2,500 m2 was designed to process 8,300 BPSD. PENEX was the licensed technology and U.O.P. provided the Basic Design Package, for continued catalytic isomerization of a mixture of pentanes and hexanes in an atmosphere of hydrogen, through a static catalytic bed under conditions of operation, which favored isomerization and minimized cracking of hydrocarbons.
Simultaneously, the project called for the design of all required interconnecting between the Isomerization unit and other units of the refinery and a new reactor was purchased and installed in the Powerformer unit (Exxon Basic Design) which provides the feed to the Isomerization unit.
