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Currently, process intensification using dividing-wall columns (DWCs) is one of the most promising alternatives for reducing the costs of the distillation process. However, for extractive distillation, there are still questions regarding whether the DWC is a more economical option than the conventional sequence (CS). Normally, extractive DWCs are simulated with two thermally coupled columns (TCSs), and their designs are usually obtained by setting the TCSs in different ways that do not necessarily constitute an optimum design. Thus, this work proposes a systematic procedure based on stage equilibrium for obtaining an optimized DWC configuration, in terms of operability and design. A strict comparison between the DWC configuration and the CS (also optimized) was performed, and the best results in terms of the total annual cost (TAC) were obtained for columns with a distinct number of stages in each section of the wall; however, these columns did not outperform the optimized conventional systems.

Current specifications for gasoline impose strong restrictions on the content of aromatic compounds. Isomerization of normal paraffins to isoparaffins is considered an important petroleum reaction for the production of clean gasoline to improve its Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON). The isoparaffins are considered as an alternative to the use of oxygenated and aromatic compounds, whose maximum contents are subjected to strict regulations in order to protect the environment. In this work, catalysts supported on mordenite were obtained by competitive ion exchange using aqueous solutions of platinum complexes. Different concentrations of platinum were tested for the isomerization of n-hexane. All the catalysts obtained were shown to be selective to the formation of isomers with high-octane number, which are the products of greatest interest in the oil refining industry. The highest conversion and the best selectivity for 2,3-dmC 4 di-branched component, the isomer with the highest octane number, were found with the 1.10 wt% Pt/HMOR.

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