Isooctane is a premium gasoline blending component with a road octane value of 100 and low vapor pressure of 1.8 psi. It is valued by refiners to create premium-grade gasoline and to help meet California’s stringent reformulated gasoline specifications. Isooctane is a clear/colorless liquid, not soluble in water, but is soluble in organic solvents and therefore blends well with gasoline.

AEF produces isooctane from the primary feedstock of field-grade butane. Field-grade butane, consisting of normal butane (n-butane) and isobutane, undergoes isomerization where the n-butane is converted into isobutane. Isobutane, is then converted to isobutylene, which dimerizes into isooctene, and further undergoes hydrogenation to become isooctane.