Process for treating naphtha

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The invention is a process in which a pyrolysis naphtha containing olefinically unsaturated components is heated in the presence of water thereby polymerizing the olefinically unsaturated components and yielding a treated naphtha. As the olefinically unsaturated components of pyrolysis naphtha form gums during heat treatment and distillation and also contribute to foul odours, low volatilities, poor stability and low octane values of pyrolysis naphthas, their removal by polymerization yields a treated naphtha which is a more valuable product than pyrolysis naphtha. In a preferred form of the invention treated naphtha is subjected to hydrogenation which yields a naphtha containing aromatic …