Bulgarian Chemical Communications, Volume 50, Issue 1, (pp. 82 – 88) 2018 82 The selective catalytic reactions for improvement of characteristics of gasolines L. R. Sassykova 1* , Zh. T. Basheva 2 , M. K. Kalykberdyev 2 , M. Nurakhmetova 2,3 , A. T. Massenova 1,2 , K. S. Rakhmetova 2 1 al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan 2 D.V.Sokolsky Institute of Fuel, Catalysis & Electrochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan 3 Kazakh-British Technical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan Received June 27, 2016; Accepted July 26, 2017 The aim of the research is the development of selective catalysts for the processes improving service performance of gasolines: catalytic hydrogenation of gasoline fractions and production of octane-increasing component of fuel additives – diisopropyl ether (DIPE). The data on the content of organic compounds in the gasoline fractions after the reaction of catalytic hydrogenation show that benzene was absent, the content of aromatic compounds was reduced from 55.12% (wt.) to 32.5% (wt.). The olefins content was reduced from 0.23% (wt) to 0.11% (wt), and the paraffins content - from 12.41% (wt.) to 11.99% (wt), whereas the iso-paraffins content increased from 30.08% (wt) to 34.09% (wt). The content of naphthenes increased from 2.12% (wt.) to 10.14% (wt.). The developed catalytic method of DIPE synthesis from iso-propanol and propane under mild conditions allowed production at a yield of 30.5-68.5%. The most active and stable catalysts for synthesis of DIPE from iso-propanol are molybdenum- and nickel-containing catalysts. The maximum DIPE yield in the optimal temperature range (250-300 о С) was 62.0-68.5%. Keywords: catalysts, gasoline, hydrogenation, additives, diisopropyl ether, metal blocks INTRODUCTION Today the production of gasolines is one of the major processes in the oil refining industry and largely determines not only the development of the industry, but also the strategic potential of a country [1,2]. Catalytic hydrogenation of straight-run gasoline distillates in the presence of efficient catalysts allows hydrogenation of benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - one of the most perspective and relevant methods of improvement of the operational properties of fuels [3-6]. The increased content of aromatic hydrocarbons, especially bicyclic ones, leads to reduction of speed and completeness of combustion of fuel, promotes carbonizing in the combustion system of the engine and worsens the ecological situation in the world. Thus, the development of highly effective catalysts for catalytic hydrogenation (hydrodearomatization) providing hydrogenation of benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in gasoline fractions improves the composition and ecological characteristics of gasoline - a prospective urgent task. The development of gasoline production is connected with the desire to improve the basic operational properties of the fuel – knock resistance, estimated octane number, as well as reduction of the toxic effects of gasoline, i.e. improvement of the sustainability of the used fuels. Such issues can be solved either by changing the chemical composition (conversion of gasoline compounds) or by application of fuel additives. The use of various fuel additives worldwide allows production of fuels which release minimal amount of nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, and various organic substances into the atmosphere during combustion and exploitation. Diisopropyl ether (DIPE) is a promising substitute for MTBE due to non-toxicity, lower volatility and lower production costs [7-9]. The aim of this research was to develop catalysts for the two processes that improve the operational properties of gasoline: (1) catalytic hydrogenation of gasoline fractions (hydrodearomatization) and (2) synthesis of octane-enhancing component of additives – DIPE. EXPERIMENTAL In the research two types of catalysts were used: in order to study the hydrogenation of the aromatic ring in gasoline fractions supported catalysts based on platinum group metals with additives were synthesized; whereas for DIPE synthesis research catalysts on metal blocks were prepared. Synthesis methodology for both types of catalysts was developed earlier by the authors of this article [10- 17]. For the preparation of the supported hydrogenation catalysts the following carriers were used: aluminum oxide γ-Al2O3, SiO2 and activated carbon. The catalysts were prepared by deposition of the respective active metal compounds on the carrier by impregnation. Two-component catalysts (based on Pd-Pt, Rh-Pt, Pd-Rh) were prepared by joint impregnation of the support with the solutions *) To whom all correspondence should be sent: E-mail: larissa.rav@mail.ru © 2018 Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Union of Chemists in Bulgaria