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Novel zeolite catalysts
F O C U S GTPC expands its microspherical catalyst production Gansu Tristar Petrochemical Group Co (GTPC) is to invest RMB 20 M in a production expansion of its second set equipment for microspherical catalyst. Following this expansion, production capacity will rise from 10,000 tonne/y to 13,000 tonne/y. GTPC is jointly operated by Tristar Co, Lanzhou General Refinery Plant, and Lanzhou Refinery City Credit Cooperative. Its principal business is the production and sale of petrochemicals, including synthetic oil, olefins, and oil additives. China Chemical Reporter, 16 May 2002, 13 (14), 5
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for its traditional Tatoray unit, to selectively transalkylate C9+ aromatics to BTX. With ATA-11, there is a high xylene yield of 30-36% and plant throughput increases by over 50% with a wide range of feedstock compositions. The process also yields high-purity benzene (99.85%) with less than 2% aromatics ring loss. SK has saved over $5 M/y in costs using the process with throughput of 6000 bbl/day.
Shimadzu, Mitsubishi Chemical to start trial nanofibre production
Egyptian Arab Trading Co’s (Eatco) methanol-to-olefins plant is expected to start up in 2005-2006 instead of the scheduled date of 2004. The delay is due to ongoing talks with potential partners. The proposed complex at the Suez special economic zone will use the UOP/Norsk Hydro process to convert methanol to olefins and will eventually include capacity to produce 400,000 tonne/y of HDPE and LLDPE. European Chemical News, 17 Jun 2002, 76 (2010), 26 & Chemical Week, 19 Jun 2002, 164 (25), 21
Nikkei Net, 8 Jul 2002 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
NEW TECHNOLOGY Novel zeolite catalysts Zeolyst International of Valley Forge, PA, has come up with ART-11 and ATA-11, two noble-metal-based zeolite catalysts that upgrade naphtha reformate and heavy aromatics into enriched benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). An SK Corp refinery in Korea has commercially demonstrated the catalysts, which are now available to the industry. SK’s Advanced Reformate process, which uses the ART-11 catalyst, does not require solvent extraction to remove non-aromatic impurities when transforming reformate to high-purity BTX and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). SK utilises ATA-11, developed
AUGUST 2002
Chemical Engineering (New York), Jun 2002, 109 (6), 21
New propylene source developed
Chemical Engineering Progress, Jun 2002, 98 (6), 14
Shimadzu Corp’s fundamental nanofibre catalyst technology will be used as Shimadzu and Mitsubishi Chemical Corp start test production of carbon nanofibres made from carbon dioxide and methane, as early as Jul 2002. The technology is expected to reduce production costs to less than 10% of those of existing methods, and also makes use of waste materials from food-processing plants and waste-processing facilities. The companies aim to commercialize the nanofibres by 2004, using Mitsubishi Chemical technology for their mass production, and are aiming for sales of Yen 2 bn/y.
Egypt: timescale slips for Eatco project
based catalyst is claimed to raise ethylene and propylene yield by 20% and about 10%, respectively. The company plans to use the process in its 750,000 tonne/y single train cracker in 2003. LG expects to achieve a $15 M/y increase in profits with the new process.
Idemitsu Petrochemical boosts ethylene yield By optimising the configuration of the helix of gills inside the naphtha transport pipes in its cracking furnace, Idemitsu Petrochemical Co has boosted ethylene yield to about 35% from the 25-30% rate normally achieved. The new technology, which the firm plans to implement at its Tokuyama plant, reduces production costs by nearly 10%, as less energy is required to produce the same output. Nikkei Net, 2 Jul 2002 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
Boosting ethylene yield Seoul, South Korea-based LG Petrochemical Co, has come up with a refractory catalyst claimed to improve ethylene and propylene yield in naphtha crackers. The metal-oxide
Lurgi and Süd-Chemie have launched Propylur, a new propylene process that taps different feedstocks such as light naphtha or selectively hydrogenated convertibles from steam crackers or FCC. Nonconvertible compounds pass through the system while almost 85% of the convertibles are reacted to ethylene, butenes, and propylene. The zeolite catalyst is considered the vital component in the conversion process. The process allows for a decrease in the partial pressure of the reactants, results in very low cooking, suppresses gum formation, and enables the latent heat required for the endothermic reaction to be shifted to the reaction zone. A demonstration plant is being designed and is due for commissioning in summer 2002. The process is also claimed to yield new olefin sources. Hydrocarbon Processing, Jun 2002, 81 (6), 31 & Chemical Engineering (New York), Jun 2002, 109 (6), 23
New route to methanol catalysts Apyron Technologies Inc of Atlanta, GA, is developing a catalyst likely to yield methanol from synthesis gas at a temperature around 100°C lower than the level of current commercial catalysts. The firm’s advanced material synthesis technology (AMST) involves mixing the metal oxides with an inorganic binder to form a matrix, wherein the active metal sites are exposed. The process is expected to require less energy and lower methanol production due to the catalyst’s improved thermal stability. A catalyst that destroys oxide of nitrogen has been formed using the process. This catalyst can be exposed to 1000°C for 53 hrs with no loss of activity. Chemical Business (India), Apr 2002, 16 (4), 11-12
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C ATA LY S T S
for its traditional Tatoray unit, to selectively transalkylate C9+ aromatics to BTX. With ATA-11, there is a high xylene yield of 30-36% and plant throughput increases by over 50% with a wide range of feedstock compositions. The process also yields high-purity benzene (99.85%) with less than 2% aromatics ring loss. SK has saved over $5 M/y in costs using the process with throughput of 6000 bbl/day.
Shimadzu, Mitsubishi Chemical to start trial nanofibre production
Egyptian Arab Trading Co’s (Eatco) methanol-to-olefins plant is expected to start up in 2005-2006 instead of the scheduled date of 2004. The delay is due to ongoing talks with potential partners. The proposed complex at the Suez special economic zone will use the UOP/Norsk Hydro process to convert methanol to olefins and will eventually include capacity to produce 400,000 tonne/y of HDPE and LLDPE. European Chemical News, 17 Jun 2002, 76 (2010), 26 & Chemical Week, 19 Jun 2002, 164 (25), 21
Nikkei Net, 8 Jul 2002 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
NEW TECHNOLOGY Novel zeolite catalysts Zeolyst International of Valley Forge, PA, has come up with ART-11 and ATA-11, two noble-metal-based zeolite catalysts that upgrade naphtha reformate and heavy aromatics into enriched benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). An SK Corp refinery in Korea has commercially demonstrated the catalysts, which are now available to the industry. SK’s Advanced Reformate process, which uses the ART-11 catalyst, does not require solvent extraction to remove non-aromatic impurities when transforming reformate to high-purity BTX and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). SK utilises ATA-11, developed
AUGUST 2002
Chemical Engineering (New York), Jun 2002, 109 (6), 21
New propylene source developed
Chemical Engineering Progress, Jun 2002, 98 (6), 14
Shimadzu Corp’s fundamental nanofibre catalyst technology will be used as Shimadzu and Mitsubishi Chemical Corp start test production of carbon nanofibres made from carbon dioxide and methane, as early as Jul 2002. The technology is expected to reduce production costs to less than 10% of those of existing methods, and also makes use of waste materials from food-processing plants and waste-processing facilities. The companies aim to commercialize the nanofibres by 2004, using Mitsubishi Chemical technology for their mass production, and are aiming for sales of Yen 2 bn/y.
Egypt: timescale slips for Eatco project
based catalyst is claimed to raise ethylene and propylene yield by 20% and about 10%, respectively. The company plans to use the process in its 750,000 tonne/y single train cracker in 2003. LG expects to achieve a $15 M/y increase in profits with the new process.
Idemitsu Petrochemical boosts ethylene yield By optimising the configuration of the helix of gills inside the naphtha transport pipes in its cracking furnace, Idemitsu Petrochemical Co has boosted ethylene yield to about 35% from the 25-30% rate normally achieved. The new technology, which the firm plans to implement at its Tokuyama plant, reduces production costs by nearly 10%, as less energy is required to produce the same output. Nikkei Net, 2 Jul 2002 (Website: http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/)
Boosting ethylene yield Seoul, South Korea-based LG Petrochemical Co, has come up with a refractory catalyst claimed to improve ethylene and propylene yield in naphtha crackers. The metal-oxide
Lurgi and Süd-Chemie have launched Propylur, a new propylene process that taps different feedstocks such as light naphtha or selectively hydrogenated convertibles from steam crackers or FCC. Nonconvertible compounds pass through the system while almost 85% of the convertibles are reacted to ethylene, butenes, and propylene. The zeolite catalyst is considered the vital component in the conversion process. The process allows for a decrease in the partial pressure of the reactants, results in very low cooking, suppresses gum formation, and enables the latent heat required for the endothermic reaction to be shifted to the reaction zone. A demonstration plant is being designed and is due for commissioning in summer 2002. The process is also claimed to yield new olefin sources. Hydrocarbon Processing, Jun 2002, 81 (6), 31 & Chemical Engineering (New York), Jun 2002, 109 (6), 23
New route to methanol catalysts Apyron Technologies Inc of Atlanta, GA, is developing a catalyst likely to yield methanol from synthesis gas at a temperature around 100°C lower than the level of current commercial catalysts. The firm’s advanced material synthesis technology (AMST) involves mixing the metal oxides with an inorganic binder to form a matrix, wherein the active metal sites are exposed. The process is expected to require less energy and lower methanol production due to the catalyst’s improved thermal stability. A catalyst that destroys oxide of nitrogen has been formed using the process. This catalyst can be exposed to 1000°C for 53 hrs with no loss of activity. Chemical Business (India), Apr 2002, 16 (4), 11-12
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