Benfree

DELIVERING LOW BENZENE GASOLINE WHILE MEETING TODAYS DEMAND

OF BALANCING COST AND PERFORMANCE

BENZENE SATURATION: TWO OPTIONS

BENFREE C

Increased regulatory pressure to reduce benzene in the

gasoline pool requires a comprehensive solution.
Controlling reformer feed or severity as a means of
limiting benzene production is a costly option and
may be inadequate for some refiners. Benzene
hydrogenation downstream of the reformer offers a
reliable solution for positive benzene control without
constraining the reformer.

Benfree C features independent splitter and reaction

sections for maximum benzene removal.
Full range reformate from a catalytic reformer is fed to
a low pressure naphtha splitter column. The splitter
operates as a dehexanizer lifting the C5 and C6
overhead, including benzene. This benzene-rich light
reformate stream is sent to the hydrogenation section.
The C7+ components are recovered in the splitter
bottoms as the heavy reformate product.

As the world leader in the field of hydrogenation, in

the refining and petrochemical industry, and with
more than 500 commercial references, Axens offers
the cost effective Benfree technology to saturate
benzene without compromising reformer severity.
Benfree addresses operator requirements in terms of
performance, flexibility, reliability, safety and cost
with two configuration options:
Benfree C: The Conventional option employs a
hydrogenation unit downstream of a reformate
splitter to saturate the benzene contained in the light
reformate stream.
Benfree C is generally the best option for very high
benzene reduction requirements (above 97% overall
benzene conversion).
Benfree RD: The alternative option utilizes Reactive
Distillation and integrates a hydrogenation reactor
with the reformate splitter column.
For 95% benzene conversion and below, Benfree RD
is the winner while the optimum scheme for a
conversion between 95% and 97% is case specific.
With the two Benfree options, Axens offers an
optimized solution for each specific case based on the
benzene conversion requirement (from 80% to 99+ %),
existing equipment availability including revamping
options, refinery configuration and cost constraints.

Splitter

Stabilizer
Off Gas

H2
Full Range
Reformate

Hydrogenation
Section

Heavy
Reformate

Light
Reformate

Typical Benfree C process flow scheme

The reformate splitter is designed to:

Minimize toluene carry-over in the light reformate
sent to the hydrogenation reactor to maximize
octane retention
Maximize overall benzene conversion by limiting
the benzene content in the heavy reformate stream.
The hydrogenation section achieves total conversion of
the benzene into cyclohexane from the light reformate
stream. The reaction takes place in a fixed catalyst bed
reactor under mild operating conditions with no
cracking and very little hydrogen excess. Hence, no
make-up or recycle compressor is required. Most of the
hydrogen excess can be recovered from the
hydrogenation section and sent back to the hydrogen
network.

A stabilizer is provided to vent light ends entering with

the hydrogen; and in some instances, it is also designed
to meet a specific RVP target in the light reformate
stream for additional flexibility.

Lower capital cost and plot area

Enhanced separation to deliver superior light naphtha
to an isomerization unit which is practically free of
benzene and C7s.

BENFREE RD

CATALYST SELECTION

The more recently developed Benfree RD technology

integrates the reformate splitter with the hydrogenation
section thus, reducing equipment and associated costs
while still providing excellent benzene conversion
levels.

Either non-noble metal (i.e. Nickel) or noble metal (i.e.

Platinum) catalysts can be employed. We manufacture
and have commercial experience with both catalysts.

Splitter

Off Gas

BENFREE HIGHLIGHTS
Benfree technology offers:
Customized solution: Benfree C or Benfree RD

Light
Reformate
H2

Heavy
Reformate

Typical Benfree RD process flow scheme

Similarly to Benfree C, a full range reformate stream is

fed to the reformate splitter. The Benfree RD splitter is
designed to take a benzene rich stream as a side-draw
from the column. This C6-rich heart cut stream is
routed after mixing hydrogen make-up to a fixed bed
hydrogenation reactor located outside the column.
The benzene depleted reactor effluent is then returned
to the column where a light reformate product is taken
as a side-cut withdrawn below a pasteurization zone
aimed at controlling RVP while the heavy reformate
product is recovered in the splitter bottoms. Design and
operating conditions are adjusted to minimize toluene
carry-over into the reaction section and maximize
octane retention.
The Benfree RD provides a number of benefits:
Simple integrated reactive distillation concept which
ensures a high level of benzene saturation with great
operation flexibility
Easy catalyst loading and change-out in a
conventional fixed bed instead of proprietary
catalytic structured packing
Continuous splitter operation, even if the reactor is
shutdown to meet market demand or fluctuations

Lower cost with integrated Benfree RD scheme:

90-95% conversion

Benfree C

Benfree RD

Capital cost

Base

Base 30%

Plot area

Base

Base 35%

Mild operating conditions to minimize operating and

capital cost as no hydrogen make-up or recycle
compressor is required
Superior flexibility to handle potential variations in
the feed throughput and benzene content
Easy unit operation with limited maintenance
Ability to co-process other streams such as Light
Straight Run Naphtha, Light Hydrocrackate Naphtha
Extremely robust design where great consideration
for safety has been taken each step of the way.
COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE
Axens has been awarded more than 40 Benfree
licenses using both Nickel and Platinum catalysts.
17 units are currently in operation, and another 10 units
will be started-up by 2010.
This extensive commercial experience coupled with
our complete portfolio of gasoline technologies,
including Catalytic Reforming and Isomerization,
provides an unparalleled expertise to help you comply
with the most stringent gasoline pool benzene
specifications.
Oct10-Benfree

Full Range
Reformate