Environment & Safety Gas Processing/LNG Maintenance & Reliability Petrochemicals Process Control Process Optimization Project Management Refining

Catalysts

Zeopore prepares for global production of economical, premium hydrocracking meso-zeolites

Zeopore is initiating discussions with candidate partners to jointly commercialize its unique zeolite mesoporization route. Combining improved hydrocracking (HDC), Zeopore’s optimized HDC zeolites bring 3 wt%-7wt% more middle distillates, depending on feedstock and process conditions.

Catalyst for 'one-step' conversion of methane to methanol

Scientists demonstrate highly selective catalyst for low-temperature, direct conversion of natural gas to liquid fuel.

Utilizing pilot plant operations for new chemical process technology development: A roadmap to scale up success and commercial plant safety

AVN Corp.: Clark, B.  |  Nunley, M.  |  Phillips, G.

To demonstrate a new chemical process technology (flowsheet, raw materials, product) or improve an existing one, pilot plants are designed and operated at a scale between laboratory benchtop and commercial scale—often with specific goals for operability, product quality, economics and process safety. Identifying where potential safety, technical risks or uncertainties may occur is always a key goal in evaluating a new process.

The purification of benzoic acid using dividing wall columns

Sulzer Chemtech: Yang, Q.  |  Ni, L-F.  |  Faessler, P.

In one recent project for a customer based in Asia, the authors’ company suggested the combination of distillation and crystallization techniques to obtain high-quality purified benzoic acid. Encouraged by the successful startup of this processing train, the customer began to schedule a second project. The authors’ company was asked to optimize the purification process to improve cost and operational efficiencies. The two existing columns, which remove lights and heavies, respectively, from the crude benzoic acid feedstock were investigated to identify key opportunities. The feasibility study based on the feed composition confirmed that the existing columns could be converted into a single dividing wall column (DWC).  

Utilize a hydrogen reactions lab to optimize renewable fuels processing

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.: Lebrecht, T.  |  Duhamel, D.

Leading technology developers in the refining space are utilizing various catalysts to enhance the adjusted reaction chemistry, but this does not directly address how to optimize hydrogen utilization for the hydrodeoxygenation and isomerization/cracking processing steps. To ensure the right equipment outlay and calibration for these hydrogenation applications, replicating the process in a lab setting can help identify efficiencies and yield improvements for a fraction of the cost that a refiner would incur attempting to achieve that optimization through modifications at commercial scale. 

SIBUR might start producing metallocene polyethylene using domestic technology

Russian petrochemical group SIBUR might start using domestic technology developed by the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in the production of metallocene polyethylene in Nizhnekamsk.

Honeywell UOP and Repsol to collaborate on renewable fuel development

The companies plan to scale and commercialize Honeywell's technologies, which use various wastes like fats, oils, greases, biomass and solids for chemical production and renewable fuels at Repsol’s refineries.

BASF introduces Fourtiva FCC catalyst to increase high-octane gasoline blending feedstock

BASF announced the commercial launch of Fourtiva™, a new fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst for gasoil to mild resid feedstock.

Clariant’s EnviCat Green series catalyst chosen for major green ammonia project in China

The catalyst will be used to remove trace oxygen from green hydrogen produced at the facility, before conversion into green ammonia.

Clariant, OMV aim to reduce carbon footprint of ethylene and ethylene oxide derivatives

Clariant and OMV sign a letter of intent to accelerate the transition towards renewable carbon in the European ethylene supply chain.