This DWC Innovations whitepaper examines how dividing wall column (DWC) technology can revamp isomerization units to boost margins from light-naphtha feed. Isomerization upgrades C5/C6 octane and reduces benzene, but the deisohexanizer’s recycle loop caps throughput. Instead of adding new columns to draw byproducts like food-grade hexane, polymer-grade hexane, isohexane, and special boiling point spirit, the deisohexanizer can be revamped into a four-cut DWC yielding light and heavy isomerate, food-grade hexane, and recycle.
7.7 moPayback period
$3.4MTotal investment
8-15%More feed capacity
4-cutDividing wall column
Case study · Asian refinery · 30 t/h, 88 RON
Results delivered
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The case study
For an Asian refinery producing 30 t/h of 88 RON isomerate, revamping the deisohexanizer into a four-cut DWC added high-value hexane products and 8–15% more feed capacity — with unchanged isomerate RON and a 7.7-month payback on a $3.4 million investment.
