Cutting-edge catalytic technologies deployment in a modern aromatics complex

James Cao is the Senior Commercial Advisor and ParamaX Alliance Operations Manager with ExxonMobil Catalysts & Licensing LLC. He has more than 30 yrs of experience in industrial catalysis and its commercial applications in petrochemicals manufacturing. With ExxonMobil, he has been responsible for the technology licensing of xylenes, ethylbenzene and cumene catalytic processes. Dr. Cao obtained his PhD in chemical engineering from the City University of New York, and MS and BS degrees in chemical engineering from Tsinghua University. He completed his business training at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University and Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (U.S.).

Thierry Leflour is the Director Expert for Axens’ aromatics business segment. He began his career with the IFPEN Group 30 yrs ago and transitioned to Axens at its founding in 2001. LeFlour has been instrumental in shaping Axens’ early industrial successes in the aromatics sector and driving its sustained growth through diverse technical and business roles. He holds an MS degree from École Centrale de Lyon (France).

Ding Ming is the Operation Manager and Senior Engineer at China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Refining & Chemical Company. He has more than 20 yrs of experience in naphtha reforming and aromatics complex unit operations. Ding earned a BS degree in chemical engineering from Dalian University of Technology and an MBA degree from the School of Business Administration at Sun Yat-sen University.