Abstract: Systems and methods for concentrating n-pentane from a natural gas liquid (NGL) for a cracking process to enhance ethylene production. Fresh NGL is fed to a first de-iso-pentanizer column, where the NGL is fractionated to a first stream of enriched iso-pentane with light hydrocarbons and a second stream containing n-pentane, residual NGL and heavy hydrocarbons. The second stream can be fed to a cracking unit to produce olefins, including ethylene. The iso-pentane is fed to hydrotreating unit to remove sulphur and impurities to meet the requirements of a reverse isomerization reactor to produce a third stream that containing n-pentane, iso-pentane, and minor hydrocarbons. This third stream is fed to stabilizer and a second iso-pentanizer column to recover an iso-pentane product and recycle it into the reverse isomerization reactor. Streams containing the n-pentane are also supplied to the cracking unit to produce olefins.

Abstract: Integrated systems and methods of processing natural gas liquid (rich in C5 content) to produce one or more light olefins are disclosed. The systems include a reverse isomerization reactor for reverse isomerizing iso-alkane to normal-alkane. The disclosed integrated system includes the reverse isomerization of iso-pentane to normal-pentane before cracking to form one or more light olefins.