Use a mixed-solvent process to boost lube base oil yields and profitability

Ganagalla Srinivasa Rao works as a senior research officer in the hydroprocessing division at HPCL’s R&D Centre in Bangalore, India. His areas of interest include hydroprocessing and lube oil processes. He completed his BTech degree in chemical engineering from NIT Warangal and his MSc degree in chemical engineering from IISc Bangalore.

Pradyut Kumar Dhar is an Assistant Manager at Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd.’s research and development (HPCL’s R&D) hydroprocessing group. He holds an MTech degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Kanpur and a BE degree in chemical engineering from Jadavpur University in Kolkata. He has 5 yr of research experience in hydroprocessing, and his areas of interest include process intensification and hydroprocessing technology development.

G. Valavarasu leads the hydroprocessing group as Deputy General Manager at HPCL’s R&D center in Bangalore. He holds a PhD in chemical engineering from Anna University in Chennai and has more than 22 yr of R&D experience in refining processes. He has published or presented approximately 50 research works for several international journals and conferences. Dr. Valavarasu is responsible for building the state-of-the-art hydroprocessing lab at HPCL’s R&D center in Bangalore. His research work also led to the commercial application of several processes in the refinery.

Peddy V. C. Rao is Chief General Manager at HPCL’s R&D center in Bangalore. He holds a PhD in chemical sciences from the IIT at Bombay, and has more than 26 yr of research experience in petrochemicals, petroleum/refining processes, catalysis, biofuels and resid upgrading. Dr. Rao holds more than 26 patents, both inside and outside of India, and has published approximately 80 research papers in international journals. He is also responsible for the developmentand commercialization of several products and processes.

holds a PhD in physical chemistry and has over 30 years of experience in R&D in petroleum refining, petrochemicals and alternate fuels. He is the general manager of the HPCL R&D center in Bangalore. Dr. Choudary is responsible for the development and commercialization of over 20 patented products and processes. He has over 90 patents both in India and abroad, and has more than 85 research papers in referred international journals and four book chapters to his credit. He is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineers (INAE). His research interests include petroleum refinery processes, petrochemicals, catalysis, adsorptive separations, biofuels and alternate energies.

Gauri Pawar is a senior process engineer for solvent extraction units at HPCL’s Mumbai refinery. During her five years of service, she has also worked in the energy conservation section of the technical department for the refinery. She received a BTech degree in chemical engineering from the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology at Nagpur University.

Rajanikant Dhamelia is a senior manager for lube operations at HPCL’s Mumbai refinery. During his 17 years of service, he has supervised lube refinery operations and provided technical services for refinery utility systems and power plants. He received an MTech degree in chemical engineering from the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology at Nagpur University.

K. Sriganesh has more than 24 years of experience in refinery process plant commissioning and troubleshooting. He has carried out extensive research on carbon molecular sieves and has published a technical paper. Mr. Sriganesh received his post-graduate degree in chemical engineering from IIT in Mumbai.