Alcohols
Improve thermodynamic equilibrium among light olefins in FCC operations
Worldwide propylene demand is strongly increasing. About 28% of the global propylene supply comes from refinery fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units. The light olefins have relative selectivity due to..
HP Petrochemicals: Coal re-emerges as a primary petrochemical feedstock
Coal-to-chemicals routes are now an important and viable option for producers in China and beyond. Those that look upon them as atavistic dinosaurs do so at their peril.
Russian refiners use oxygenates to preserve octane
A case study was conducted regarding the physical and chemical properties of key gasoline oxygenates, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME) and other blending components.
Improve the isomerization of alkanes by catalytic distillation
The isomerization of light gasoline fractions is crucial to producing high-octane fuels and to reducing the benzene content in gasoline. One of the most promising options for isomerization is catalytic distillation.
A biofuels roadmap for Europe to 2030
What will the transport sector use as an energy source in 2030? If you answered gas, electricity or hydrogen, you could be on the right track. These sources are becoming increasingly useful to meet cl..
HP Editorial Comment: What’s next for the energy industry?
Year-end always leads to insightful predictions for the upcoming 12 months and possibly some longer-term insights. In writing this editorial at the end of December, HP reviewed several 2014 outlooks t..
HP Viewpoint: Methanol: The other transportation fuel
In the US Congress, the Open Fuel Standard Act was introduced to direct automakers to have half of all new cars by the 2017 model year capable of operating on something other than gasoline, with model..
HP Industry Perspectives: New crude oil supplies stabilize oil prices
A new US Energy Information Administration (EIA) report highlighted a positive trend unfolding within the global energy market. The rise in US crude oil production has greatly contributed to stabilizi..
Chemical-grade operation—or not?
The quality of transportation fuels has evolved. Earlier, the fuel quality was based on octane to power larger engines for automobiles and cetane for commercial trucks. As lead was phased out of gasol..
HP Editorial Comment: By the numbers
At times, engineers, bankers, scientists and accountants can be obsessed with numbers. Why? Because numbers are vital, especially in the design and operation of process units and equipment. Anniversar..

- U.S. EPA to remove proposed EV volumes from biofuel blending rule 6/6
- BASF increases alkoxylates production capacity in Europe 6/6
- Russia's Sakhalin invites India and China to tap energy resources 6/6
- Airlines urge co-operation to help curb emissions 6/6
- Oil prices steady as economic fears offset Saudi output cut 6/6
- U.S. diesel demand is falling despite economic growth 6/6
- VOC reduction at Raffineria di Milazzo’s SRU complex—Part 2
- Digital Technologies: Do not just monitor bad actor machines: Start when they are healthy
- People
- Editorial Comment
- Maintenance and Reliability: Non-standard flanges for catalytic cracking units
- How companies can take advantage of APM solutions to reduce planned maintenance
- Design considerations when flaring ethylene oxide
- Why sulfur plants fail: An in-depth study of sulfur recovery unit failures—Part 1
- Implement advanced level control techniques to improve crude distillation unit stabilizer performance
- Maintenance and Reliability: Non-standard flanges for catalytic cracking units