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UOP technology for UAE PET unit
F O C U S some heavier olefins. The Total Petrochemicals/UOP Olefin Cracking process converts these heavier olefins predominantly to propylene with some associated ethylene. By integrating the two processes, Total Petrochemicals and UOP will demonstrate a very significant increase in the production of light olefins, particularly propylene. Press release from: UOP LLC, 25 East Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017, USA. Tel: +1 847 391 2000. Website: http://www.uop.com (7 Dec 2005); & Chemical Week, 14 Dec 2005, 167 (42), 7 & Chemical Market Reporter, 19 Dec 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemical and Engineering News, 12 Dec 2005, 83 (50), 18-19 & Chemisch2Weekblad, 9 Dec 2005 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 12 Dec 2005, (321), 11 (in French)
Total uses synergies between its Normandy refinery and its petrochemicals Total is considering an €300-400 M plan to build for 2010-2012 a continuous catalytic reformer (CCR) for the group’s refinery at Harfleur, Normandy, France. This modernisation would allow conversion of petrols into basic products, mainly benzene, for the near-by Total Petrochemicals plant at Gonfreville-l’Orcher. This qualitative and quantitative increase in the benzene produced by the refinery would be part of Total’s 7 year €700 M modernisation programme. The CCR process gives a better benzene extraction, more in line with expected future European environmental norms. The hydrogen produced with the benzene would be used to desulfurize petrol. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 19 Dec 2005, (322), 14 (in French)
ExxonMobil’s dewaxing technology selected for two Petro-Canada ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co (ExxonMobil) announced that Petro-Canada has selected MIDW fuels catalytic dewaxing technology for both their Montreal and Edmonton refineries. At Montreal, the MIDW fuels catalytic dewaxing technology will be integrated with a 30,000-bbl/day ExxonMobil grassroots ultra low sulfur diesel hydrotreater to produce high quality diesel fuel at less than 10 ppm sulfur with excellent pour point quality. The MIDW proprietary catalyst also
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provides a boost in cetane quality while reducing high boiling components to lower the T95 boiling point of the diesel fuel through isomerization and distillate selective cracking. At Edmonton, the MIDW technology will be used to produce very low pour-point diesel on a 15,000 bbl/day retrofit unit. This technology will provide Petro-Canada the maximum yield of diesel product and will feature the latest in ExxonMobil’s Spider Vortex reactor technology. Press release from: ExxonMobil Corp, 5959, Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, TX 75039-2298, USA. Website: http://www.exxonmobil.com (4 Jan 2006)
Japan Energy picks Axens for aromatics complex Japan Energy (Tokyo) has decided on Axens’ ParamaX process for an earlier reported aromatics complex at its oil refinery in Kashima, Japan. Approximately Yen 70 bn ($580 M) is estimated for the project, which includes a 60,000 bbl/day condensate splitter. Heavy naphtha amounting to 20,000 bbl/day will be fed to the complex, which will also produce 410,000 tonne/y of para-xylene and 170,000 tonne/y of benzene from early 2008. Chemical Week, 14 Dec 2005, 167 (42), 16
UOP technology for UAE PET unit A 600 tonne/day bottle grade PET plant will be built in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The plant, which will utilise UOP’s solid-state polymerisation technology, will be a jv between JBF Industry Ltd and Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority. The new jv company is called JBF RAK. Asian Chemical News, 12 Dec 2005, 12 (518) (Website: http://www.asianchemicalnews.com)
NEW TECHNOLOGY Nanotechnologies used to improve olefins synthesis A Canadian consortium headed by Quantiam Technologies Inc has developed a new, more environmentally friendly, process for synthesizing olefins. The technology
will make a major contribution to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions whilst cutting olefins production costs by 20%. It uses a new generation of catalytic coatings which permit the production of olefins at lower temperatures, thereby cutting energy consumption and emissions. It will have a major economic and environmental impact on an industry which produces 110 M tonne/y ethylene (representing an $80 M market). The development of the technology was accelerated by the use of nanotechnology. Quantiam is building a pilot unit using the new technology which will serve to launch the process’ industrial use. It will go on sale in 2007. Worldwide, hydrocracking generates costs of $10 bn/y as well as significant emissions of carbon dioxide. Quantiam recently received $1.45 M in funding from the Canadian Sustainable Development Technologies agency. The company has also raised $8.3 M from public and private investors, including Nova Chemicals. In total the project represents an investment of $9.8 M. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 5 Dec 2005, (320), 16 (in French)
Albemarle announces breakthrough in FCC catalyst technology Albemarle Corp announced the development and commercialization of a breakthrough in FCC catalyst technology with its new proprietary ADZT-100 zeolite. Coinciding with this announcement, Albemarle announced the launch of its new Action family of FCC catalysts, which is based upon the innovative ADZT-100 zeolite. FCC catalysts are used in virtually all petroleum refineries and are essential for the production of transportation fuels. Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website: http://www.albemarle.com (9 Dec 2005)
Photocatalyst particles with the smallest diameter Guangzhou Mente Nanometer Science and Technology Co Ltd has developed a titanium dioxide colloidal sol with an average diameter of under 3 nm for use as a photocatalyst. This is a new material with a broad range
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Total uses synergies between its Normandy refinery and its petrochemicals Total is considering an €300-400 M plan to build for 2010-2012 a continuous catalytic reformer (CCR) for the group’s refinery at Harfleur, Normandy, France. This modernisation would allow conversion of petrols into basic products, mainly benzene, for the near-by Total Petrochemicals plant at Gonfreville-l’Orcher. This qualitative and quantitative increase in the benzene produced by the refinery would be part of Total’s 7 year €700 M modernisation programme. The CCR process gives a better benzene extraction, more in line with expected future European environmental norms. The hydrogen produced with the benzene would be used to desulfurize petrol. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 19 Dec 2005, (322), 14 (in French)
ExxonMobil’s dewaxing technology selected for two Petro-Canada ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co (ExxonMobil) announced that Petro-Canada has selected MIDW fuels catalytic dewaxing technology for both their Montreal and Edmonton refineries. At Montreal, the MIDW fuels catalytic dewaxing technology will be integrated with a 30,000-bbl/day ExxonMobil grassroots ultra low sulfur diesel hydrotreater to produce high quality diesel fuel at less than 10 ppm sulfur with excellent pour point quality. The MIDW proprietary catalyst also
FEBRUARY 2006
ON
C ATA LY S T S
provides a boost in cetane quality while reducing high boiling components to lower the T95 boiling point of the diesel fuel through isomerization and distillate selective cracking. At Edmonton, the MIDW technology will be used to produce very low pour-point diesel on a 15,000 bbl/day retrofit unit. This technology will provide Petro-Canada the maximum yield of diesel product and will feature the latest in ExxonMobil’s Spider Vortex reactor technology. Press release from: ExxonMobil Corp, 5959, Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, TX 75039-2298, USA. Website: http://www.exxonmobil.com (4 Jan 2006)
Japan Energy picks Axens for aromatics complex Japan Energy (Tokyo) has decided on Axens’ ParamaX process for an earlier reported aromatics complex at its oil refinery in Kashima, Japan. Approximately Yen 70 bn ($580 M) is estimated for the project, which includes a 60,000 bbl/day condensate splitter. Heavy naphtha amounting to 20,000 bbl/day will be fed to the complex, which will also produce 410,000 tonne/y of para-xylene and 170,000 tonne/y of benzene from early 2008. Chemical Week, 14 Dec 2005, 167 (42), 16
UOP technology for UAE PET unit A 600 tonne/day bottle grade PET plant will be built in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The plant, which will utilise UOP’s solid-state polymerisation technology, will be a jv between JBF Industry Ltd and Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority. The new jv company is called JBF RAK. Asian Chemical News, 12 Dec 2005, 12 (518) (Website: http://www.asianchemicalnews.com)
NEW TECHNOLOGY Nanotechnologies used to improve olefins synthesis A Canadian consortium headed by Quantiam Technologies Inc has developed a new, more environmentally friendly, process for synthesizing olefins. The technology
will make a major contribution to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions whilst cutting olefins production costs by 20%. It uses a new generation of catalytic coatings which permit the production of olefins at lower temperatures, thereby cutting energy consumption and emissions. It will have a major economic and environmental impact on an industry which produces 110 M tonne/y ethylene (representing an $80 M market). The development of the technology was accelerated by the use of nanotechnology. Quantiam is building a pilot unit using the new technology which will serve to launch the process’ industrial use. It will go on sale in 2007. Worldwide, hydrocracking generates costs of $10 bn/y as well as significant emissions of carbon dioxide. Quantiam recently received $1.45 M in funding from the Canadian Sustainable Development Technologies agency. The company has also raised $8.3 M from public and private investors, including Nova Chemicals. In total the project represents an investment of $9.8 M. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 5 Dec 2005, (320), 16 (in French)
Albemarle announces breakthrough in FCC catalyst technology Albemarle Corp announced the development and commercialization of a breakthrough in FCC catalyst technology with its new proprietary ADZT-100 zeolite. Coinciding with this announcement, Albemarle announced the launch of its new Action family of FCC catalysts, which is based upon the innovative ADZT-100 zeolite. FCC catalysts are used in virtually all petroleum refineries and are essential for the production of transportation fuels. Press release from: Albemarle Corp, 330, South Fourth Street, PO Box 1335, Richmond, VA 23210, USA. Tel: +1 804 788 6000. Fax: +1 804 388 7686. Website: http://www.albemarle.com (9 Dec 2005)
Photocatalyst particles with the smallest diameter Guangzhou Mente Nanometer Science and Technology Co Ltd has developed a titanium dioxide colloidal sol with an average diameter of under 3 nm for use as a photocatalyst. This is a new material with a broad range
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