Iso-hexanes and Isopentane: Light Straight-Run Gasoline Isomerised over Platinum-Alumina with Hydrogen (Gulf, US 3,071,535)

The lightest straight-run gasoline is mostly straight-chain pentane and hexane, of low octane. Rearranged into their branched forms over a platinum catalyst with hydrogen, they become isopentane and iso-hexanes, high in both research and motor octane. Result (Gulf's example, barrels per day): from 7,549 of light straight-run gasoline, 2,873 of isopentane and 2,792 of iso-hexanes, plus 1,796 of isoheptanes split off beforehand. Source: Condrasky & Glazier, US 3,071,535 (Gulf, filed 1959). Not given: temperature, pressure, space velocity. Hydrogen and light hydrocarbons: fire risk. Picture drawn by Youblob.