Conversion of refinery c5 paraffins into c4 and c6 paraffins

Abstract

A process for preparing a C product stream and a C + product stream is disclosed. The process involves contacting a C containing paraffinic feedstock with a catalyst that includes a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst and an olefin metathesis catalyst under conditions which dehydrogenate the paraffins to olefins. The olefins are then metathesized and rehydrogenated to provide a product stream. A C fraction and a C + fraction can each be isolated from the product stream. The C fraction can be used, for example, in an alkylation reaction to provide compounds useful in gasoline compositions. Unconverted C paraffins can be recycled. The C + fraction can be used, for example, as solvents. Alternatively, they can be isomerized to form gasoline additives, or can be converted to aromatic compounds via reforming, for example, using conventional reforming techniques, preferably using the AROMAX™ process or traditional rheniforming conditions.