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ZeaChem starts operations of core facility at US biorefinery
FOCUS equipment and materials for two SNOX plants. The plants will be installed at the new RNEST grass root refinery in Pernambuco, Brazil. The supply covers internals for 80 WSA condensers for condensation of sulfuric acid, 8 units for acid mist control and a complete acid system. Cleaning flue gases: The SNOX plants will clean the off-gases from three boilers in the refinery that supply electricity and steam for internal use. The boilers are fired with heavy fuel oil and petcoke. Based on catalytic processes, the SNOX technology converts sulfur dioxide to industrial grade sulfuric acid and NOx to harmless nitrogen. Sulfuric acid production: In addition to treating the boiler flue gases, the Claus plant tail gases, the amine gases containing hydrogen sulfide, and the SWS gases containing ammonia will also be treated in the SNOX plants. The SNOX plants are designed for possible elimination of the Claus plants, which then means that all sulfur compounds in the refinery will be converted to sulfuric acid. Press release from: Haldor Topsoe A/S, Nymollevej 55, PO Box 213, DK 2800 Lyngby, Denmark, tel: +45 4527 2000, fax: +45 4527 2999, website: http://www.haldortopsoe.com (29 Nov 2011)
ZeaChem starts operations of core facility at US biorefinery ZeaChem’s core facility for its new integrated demonstration biorefinery started its operations in OR, USA. The plant will produce acetic acid and ethyl acetate, which are used in the manufacture of paints, lacquers, and solvents. ZeaChem intends to sell biobased chemicals to commercial and industrial customers who are interested in renewable and economically viable alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals. Meanwhile, ZeaChem is planning to build its biorefinery platform to produce a wide range of cellulosic, biomass-based, sustainable and economical chemicals and fuels. Additionally, ZeaChem is also developing its integrated biorefinery by setting up a second project to add the capability of using cellulosic biomass on the front end and converting ethyl acetate into ethanol on the back end. Original Source: CTBR Clean Technology Business Review, 6 Jan 2012 (Website: http://www.cleantechnology-business-review.com) © CTBR 2012
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ZeaChem gets $232.5 M loan guarantee for cellulosic biorefinery Under the 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program, the US Department of Agriculture has provided a $232.5 M loan guarantee to ZeaChem Inc for a cellulosic biorefinery project. The biorefinery will be sited at the Port of Morrow, Boardman, OR, and will have a production capacity of at least 25 M gal/y. ZeaChem is already running a 250,000 gal/y biorefinery at the site as a demonstration plant. The new biorefinery will utilise woody biomass and agricultural wastes as feedstock. The project will create 65 new jobs, as well as 242 indirect jobs. Original Source: Renewable Energy Focus, 27 Jan 2012 (Website: http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com) © Elsevier Ltd 2012
Demonstration project for cellulosicbioethanol production to start Plans are underway to begin in FY 2012 a demonstration project for an integrated system to produce bioethanol using cellulosic biomass derived from high-yield herbaceous and woody vegetation. The Research Association of Innovative Bioethanol Technology, which is implementing the project, has completed a 25 klitre/y pilot plant for the development of the system. The association was established by six major Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toray Industries, Sapporo Engineering, and Toyota Motor, with the aim of validating a technology by FY 2015 for the production of 200,000 klitres of bioethanol, at a cost of Yen 40 bn (52 cents)/litre. The association agreed in FY 2009 to participate in a five-year New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization project to develop, in tie-up with universities, a technology to process cellulosic biomass into liquid fuels. With the demonstration project, the objective is to manufacture bioethanol at a cost of Yen 80/litre by FY 2015. The pilot plant employs a process that makes use of dry ammonia gas to pretreat the biomass. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, 11 Jan 2012 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp) © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2012
Albemarle expands production capabilities for finished polyolefin catalysts at Baton Rouge Albemarle Corp has successfully completed the latest expansion of its Process Development Center (PDC) in Baton Rouge, LA, by installing a new production train for finished polyolefin catalysts and a number of supporting auxiliaries. This new train will add to the capacity in its existing facilities at the PDC. PR Newswire, 25 Jan 2012 (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
UOP technology for upgrading the bottom of the barrel selected for refinery expansion in Pakistan UOP LLC announced on 26 Jan 2012 that its new Uniflex processing technology has been selected by National Refinery Ltd (NRL) to maximize diesel and lubricant production in Pakistan. UOP’s Uniflex processing technology was developed to help refiners processing the bottom of the barrel, the heaviest portions of a barrel of crude also known as vacuum residue, into higher-value transportation fuels. This technology can deliver 90% conversion of vacuum residue to transportation fuels while minimizing by-products. Traditional bottom-of-the-barrel upgrading process technologies have only been able to convert 60-70% of vacuum residue to transportation fuels. The NRL facility, which is scheduled for start-up in 2016, will produce 40,000 bbls/day of diesel fuel and 4500 bbls/day of lube base oils. NRL will use Uniflex technology to upgrade its heavy residue into highvalue distillate products. The technology will be integrated with UOP Unionfining hydroprocessing solutions to process distillates into high-quality diesel fuel and naphtha into high-quality feedstock used for gasoline production. Vacuum gas oil from the plant will also be converted to diesel and lube base oils using UOP’s Unicracking technology and fuels dewaxing technology provided by an alliance between UOP and ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co (EMRE). The alliance, formed in 2011, brings together EMRE technology for lube base oils production with UOP hydroprocessing
MARCH 2012
ZeaChem starts operations of core facility at US biorefinery ZeaChem’s core facility for its new integrated demonstration biorefinery started its operations in OR, USA. The plant will produce acetic acid and ethyl acetate, which are used in the manufacture of paints, lacquers, and solvents. ZeaChem intends to sell biobased chemicals to commercial and industrial customers who are interested in renewable and economically viable alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals. Meanwhile, ZeaChem is planning to build its biorefinery platform to produce a wide range of cellulosic, biomass-based, sustainable and economical chemicals and fuels. Additionally, ZeaChem is also developing its integrated biorefinery by setting up a second project to add the capability of using cellulosic biomass on the front end and converting ethyl acetate into ethanol on the back end. Original Source: CTBR Clean Technology Business Review, 6 Jan 2012 (Website: http://www.cleantechnology-business-review.com) © CTBR 2012
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ZeaChem gets $232.5 M loan guarantee for cellulosic biorefinery Under the 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program, the US Department of Agriculture has provided a $232.5 M loan guarantee to ZeaChem Inc for a cellulosic biorefinery project. The biorefinery will be sited at the Port of Morrow, Boardman, OR, and will have a production capacity of at least 25 M gal/y. ZeaChem is already running a 250,000 gal/y biorefinery at the site as a demonstration plant. The new biorefinery will utilise woody biomass and agricultural wastes as feedstock. The project will create 65 new jobs, as well as 242 indirect jobs. Original Source: Renewable Energy Focus, 27 Jan 2012 (Website: http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com) © Elsevier Ltd 2012
Demonstration project for cellulosicbioethanol production to start Plans are underway to begin in FY 2012 a demonstration project for an integrated system to produce bioethanol using cellulosic biomass derived from high-yield herbaceous and woody vegetation. The Research Association of Innovative Bioethanol Technology, which is implementing the project, has completed a 25 klitre/y pilot plant for the development of the system. The association was established by six major Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toray Industries, Sapporo Engineering, and Toyota Motor, with the aim of validating a technology by FY 2015 for the production of 200,000 klitres of bioethanol, at a cost of Yen 40 bn (52 cents)/litre. The association agreed in FY 2009 to participate in a five-year New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization project to develop, in tie-up with universities, a technology to process cellulosic biomass into liquid fuels. With the demonstration project, the objective is to manufacture bioethanol at a cost of Yen 80/litre by FY 2015. The pilot plant employs a process that makes use of dry ammonia gas to pretreat the biomass. Original Source: Japan Chemical Web, 11 Jan 2012 (Website: http://www.japanchemicalweb.jp) © The Chemical Daily Co Ltd 2012
Albemarle expands production capabilities for finished polyolefin catalysts at Baton Rouge Albemarle Corp has successfully completed the latest expansion of its Process Development Center (PDC) in Baton Rouge, LA, by installing a new production train for finished polyolefin catalysts and a number of supporting auxiliaries. This new train will add to the capacity in its existing facilities at the PDC. PR Newswire, 25 Jan 2012 (Website: http://www.prnewswire.com)
UOP technology for upgrading the bottom of the barrel selected for refinery expansion in Pakistan UOP LLC announced on 26 Jan 2012 that its new Uniflex processing technology has been selected by National Refinery Ltd (NRL) to maximize diesel and lubricant production in Pakistan. UOP’s Uniflex processing technology was developed to help refiners processing the bottom of the barrel, the heaviest portions of a barrel of crude also known as vacuum residue, into higher-value transportation fuels. This technology can deliver 90% conversion of vacuum residue to transportation fuels while minimizing by-products. Traditional bottom-of-the-barrel upgrading process technologies have only been able to convert 60-70% of vacuum residue to transportation fuels. The NRL facility, which is scheduled for start-up in 2016, will produce 40,000 bbls/day of diesel fuel and 4500 bbls/day of lube base oils. NRL will use Uniflex technology to upgrade its heavy residue into highvalue distillate products. The technology will be integrated with UOP Unionfining hydroprocessing solutions to process distillates into high-quality diesel fuel and naphtha into high-quality feedstock used for gasoline production. Vacuum gas oil from the plant will also be converted to diesel and lube base oils using UOP’s Unicracking technology and fuels dewaxing technology provided by an alliance between UOP and ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co (EMRE). The alliance, formed in 2011, brings together EMRE technology for lube base oils production with UOP hydroprocessing
MARCH 2012