Process for reducing the benzene content of gasoline

Abstract

A process is described for reducing the level of benzene in a refinery gasoline feed containing benzene and at least one C5+ olefin, in which the refinery gasoline feed is contacted with a first alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to react at least part of the C5+ olefin and benzene in the refinery gasoline feed and produce a first alkylation effluent. The first alkylation effluent is separated into at least (i) a first fraction rich in benzene, (ii) a second fraction rich in C7 to C12 hydrocarbons and (iii) a third fraction rich in C13+ hydrocarbons. At least part of the first fraction is contacted with an alkylating agent comprising one or more C2 to C4 olefins in the presence of a second alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a second alkylation effluent which has reduced benzene content as compared with the first fraction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.