Chemistry in the Industries 287
important is that, in every case, these molecules unite in side-
chain arrangements and the resulting synthetic gasoline has
an octane number approaching ɪoo. Thus a high-quality
gasoline is developed and a use found for the 300 billion cubic
feet of practically waste gases formed yearly by the crack-
ing process.
Isomerization is the conversion of straight-chain to
branched-chain molecules. The need for isobutane, in alky-
lation, has emphasized this isomerization of normal butane.
The new Isomate process isomerizes pentane and hexane to
form a product to be used directly in gasoline. Hydrochloric
acid and aluminum chloride are used as catalysts.
In the hydroforming unit the catalyst converts low octane
naphtha into high octane aromatic gasoline. This process in-
volves the circulation of hydrogen in the admixture passing
over the granular catalyst. A yield of as high as 20 per cent
toluene is obtainable. On the basis of 7500 barrels of naphtha
feed per day, a toluene production of five million gallons per
year, would be possible. The enormous production of toluene,
when made into TNT, Tri-nitro-toluene, will provide very
effective April showers for Germany . . . showers of four- and
eight-ton “Block Busters.”
Catalytic cracking processes may be broadly classified
according to the physical state of both the catalyst and the
reacting hydrocarbons in the reaction zone. These hydro-
carbons may be reacted in either the liquid or vapor phase,
whereas the material acting as a catalyst may be solid,
liquid, or vapor. In the present commercially important
processes for catalytic cracking, the Houdry, Fluid Flow,
and T.C.C. (Thermofor Catalytic Cracking), the hydrocar-
bons are substantially vaporized and cracked in the presence
of solid catalysts.
Many types of catalysts have been developed for use in