High octane gasoline production

Claim 2

A process for the production of high octane gasoline from a naphtha feed which comprises the steps of: i. converting at least a portion of a naphtha fraction boiling within the range of from about 50* F. to about 425* F. in a reforming zone at relatively low severity reforming conditions to produce a gasoline reformate containing aromatic and saturated hydrocarbons; ii. separating at least a portion of said gasoline reformate into an aromatic portion and a non-aromatic portion containing saturates; iii. recovering said aromatic portion of said reformate; iv. passing at least a portion of said non-aromatic portion of said reformate into a saturate cracking zone and cracking said non-aromatic portion at conditions to effect the production of saturated and unsaturated light hydrocarbons of from about two to about five carbon atoms per molecule and a heavy cracked product boiling within the range of from about 100* to 430* F. and containing aromatics; v. recovering said saturate and unsaturated light hydrocarbons; vi. separating at least an aliquot portion of said heavy cracked product into an aromatic portion and a non-aromatic portion; and vii. recycling at least a portion of said non-aromatic portion to the saturate cracking zone.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that said reformate is separated by passage into an aromatic separation zone which effects said separation of non-aromatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by solvent extraction means.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that said reformate is separated by passage into an aromatic separation zone which effects said separation of non-aromatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by adsorptive-separation means.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that at least a portion of said saturate and unsaturate light hydrocarbons are converted into a gasoline component.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that said saturate cracking zone effects the catalytic cracking of said non-aromatics.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that said saturate cracking zone effects the thermal cracking of said non-aromatics.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 further characterized in that said gasoline reformate and said heavy cracked product are separated into aromatic and non-aromatic portions by passage into a single aromatic separation zone.

Claim 9

The process of claim 7 further characterized in that said aromatic separation zone is a solvent extraction zone.

Claim 10

The process of claim 7 further characterized in that said aromatic separation zone is an adsorptive separation zone.

Claim 11

A process for the production of high octane gasoline from a naphtha feed which comprises the steps of: i. converting at least a portion of a naphtha fraction boiling within the range of from about 50* F. to about 425* F. in a reforming zone at relatively low severity reforming conditions to produce a gasoline reformate containing aromatic and saturated hydrocarbons; ii. passing at least a portion of said gasoline reformate together with a first cracked recycle stream to an aromatic separation zone wherein there is effected a concentration of said reformate and cracked streams into an aromatic stream and a non-aromatic stream; iii. recovering said aromatic stream; iv. passing at least a portion of said non-aromatic stream along with a second cracked recycle stream into a saturate cracking zone to effect the production of saturated and unsaturated light hydrocarbons of from about two to about five carbon atoms and a heavy cracked product boiling within the range of from about 100* to 430* F. and containing aromatics; v. recovering said saturated and unsaturated light hydrocarbons; vi. recycling an aliquot portion of said heavy cracked product to said aromatic separation zone as said firSt cracked recycle stream; and vii. recycling an aliquot portion of said cracked product directly to said saturate cracking zone as said second cracked recycle stream.

Claim 12

A process for the production of high octane gasoline from a naphtha feed which comprises the steps of: i. converting at least a portion of a naphtha fraction boiling within the range of from about 50* F. to about 425* F. in a reforming zone at relatively low severity reforming conditions to produce a gasoline reformate containing aromatic and saturated hydrocarbons; ii. passing at least a portion of said gasoline reformate together with a first cracked recycle stream to an aromatic separation zone wherein there is effected a concentration of said reformate and cracked streams into an aromatic stream and a non-aromatic stream; iii. recovering said aromatic stream; iv. passing at least a portion of said non-aromatic stream along with a second cracked recycle stream into a saturate cracking zone to effect the production of saturated and unsaturated light hydrocarbons of from about two to about five carbon atoms and a heavy cracked product boiling within the range of from about 100* to 430* F. and containing aromatics; v. recovering said saturated and unsaturated light hydrocarbons; vi. recycling an aliquot portion of said heavy cracked product to said aromatic separation zone as said firSt cracked recycle stream; and vii. recycling an aliquot portion of said cracked product directly to said saturate cracking zone as said second cracked recycle stream.