A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed
wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light
naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in
the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to
convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the
octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the
valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy
naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in
distillation column reactors.
