Processes for an improvement to gasoline octane for long-chain paraffin feed streams

A method for making a higher-octane fuel component from a feed stream containing C8+paraffins, comprising:

• catalytically cracking C8+paraffins in the feed stream using a hydrogenation-metal-impregnated Zeolite catalyst at a temperature below 370° C., a pressure below 250 psig, and a flow rate of 1.5 to 3 WHSV and converting the C8+ paraffins to a reaction product comprising first C5-7 paraffins, first C4- paraffins, and C5-7 and C4- olefins converted from the C8+ paraffins,
• the C5-7 olefins and the C4- olefins being hydrogenated in the presence of the hydrogenation-metal-impregnated Zeolite catalyst to form second C5-7 paraffins and second C4- paraffins, respectively.
• the reaction product comprising a liquid phase containing product first and second C5-7 paraffins and a gas phase containing product first and second C4- paraffins;
• the liquid phase paraffins having an Octane Value that is at least 1 Octane Value higher than the Octane Value of the paraffins in the feed stream;
• and
• separating the liquid phase from the gas phase.