Abstract: The technologies for maximizing gasoline production from naphtha and light hydrocarbons are reviewed and studied. It is found that the octane yield (the product of multiplying liquid yield by RON) is affected by the types of catalytic reforming process and the processing routes; the octane yield is increased by properly selecting reforming catalyst and optimizing operation conditions. The isomerization of light naphtha can significantly increase the octane yield, and furthermore, a newly developed upgrading process without hydrogen presence can convert light hydrocarbons, such as C4 fraction, to high octane gasoline blending components, and at the same time to produce LPG having more than 95% of paraffins as vehicle fuel, which is an effective way to increase the value of light hydrocarbon resources.

Key words: Gasoline, Catalytic reforming, isomerization, upgrading