ISOMERIZATION

The straight chain paraffinic molecules resulting from the aforementioned reactions, even though they offer increased cetane number, heating value and oxidation stability in the biofuels which contain them, they also de­grade their cold flow properties. In order to improve the cold flow proper­ties, isomerization reactions are also required, which normally take place during a second step/reactor as they require a different catalyst. Some ex­amples of isomerization reactions are given in Schemes 10 and 11.

R-CH2-CH2-CH3 —— ► R’CH’CH3

CH3

SCHEME 10

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