Wednesday, 16 June 2021 09:32

Sulzer Chemtech and Axens alliance delivers an advanced FCC naphtha processing solution

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Axens, an international provider of process technologies, catalysts, adsorbents and services and Sulzer Chemtech (GTC Technology), a global licensor of refinery and petrochemical process technologies, have formed an alliance to license an advanced process for FCC (fluid catalytic cracking) naphtha processing. The combined offering is based on Axens’ Prime-G+® hydrodesulfurization technology and Sulzer Chemtech’s GT-BTX PluS® extraction technology.

Axens Prime-G+® technology is by far the leading technology for FCC gasoline selective desulfurization with more than 300 references worldwide and Sulzer Chemtech is incontestably positioned as the leader for aromatics recovery for downstream FCC applications through its extractive distillation technology GT-BTX PluS®. The combined solution of both technologies brings outstanding advantages for the gasoline and the petrochemical segments.

Sulzer Chemtech and Axens’s combined offer provides a unique and advanced solution for a refinery to achieve maximum performance in both ULS gasoline production and gasoline-to-petrochemical production. Sulzer Chemtech and Axens’s combined offer provides a unique and advanced solution for a refinery to achieve maximum performance in both ULS gasoline production and gasoline-to-petrochemical production.

The combination of Prime-G+® and GT-BTX PluS® offers a unique solution to reduce octane loss to a very low level for the gasoline pool. The technology is especially important in countries that are upgrading fuel specifications to meet environmental requirements, and it can be applied in new, or retrofits of existing units in operation to maximize profit.

It also provides refiners with the option of converting FCC gasoline into petrochemical products – BTX and additional propylene – and get additional margin in regions where gasoline demand is not sufficient. For those, the combined offer can convert their excess gasoline into petrochemical products to adapt to the market change with minimum investment.

Axens’ Process Licensing Global Business Unit Executive Vice-President Patrick Sarrazin comments: “We look forward to collaborating with Sulzer Chemtech, to provide a comprehensive, high-quality processing solution to different players in the oil refining sector. The combination of Prime-G+® and GT-BTX PluS® and will help them address current and future market demands as well as increase their competitiveness.”

The combined technologies have the flexibility to switch between gasoline mode and petrochemical mode at any time to quickly adapt to market change. The combined technologies have the flexibility to switch between gasoline mode and petrochemical mode at any time to quickly adapt to market change.

“We are excited about the partnership with Axens. We are committed to delivering state-of-the-art technologies and are confident that this combined solution will bring many benefits to our customers. It will allow them to prepare for the changing gasoline and petrochemicals demand in both the near and longer term,” says Sander van Donk, Head of Global Technology Business at Sulzer Chemtech.

About Axens’ Prime-G+® Technology

Axens’ Prime-G+® technology is the world leader technology for FCC gasoline selective hydro-desulfurization with more than 300 commercial references. As the FCC gasoline is a major contributor to the gasoline production, Prime-G+® is a key unit to ensure the production of Ultra Low Sulfur gasoline (ULSG) complying with the most stringent environmental regulations. The Prime-G+® technology specificity is to allow a deep hydro-desulfurization while keeping high octane number and has industrially demonstrated its capability to achieve less than 10 ppmwt sulfur content. Over the years the Prime-G+® has emerged as the key process unit for the refiners to meet the challenging gasoline specifications.

About GT-BTX PluS®

GT-BTX PluS® technology, derived from Sulzer Chemtech GTC’s world-leading GT-BTX® extraction process, is specifically designed for FCC naphtha processing. It utilizes high-efficiency solvent and state-of-the-art process design to extract and separate aromatics, sulfurs, olefins and other non-aromatics from FCC naphtha. By segregating different components to different destinations, GT-BTX PluS® provides flexibilities to reduce octane loss even lower than that of a standalone hydrodesulfurization unit at gasoline mode, and to convert gasoline into petrochemical products at petrochemical mode. It is a technology for the next generation of refineries.

About Axens

Axens (www.axens.net) is a group providing a complete range of solutions for the conversion of oil and biomass to cleaner fuels, the production and purification of major petrochemical intermediates as well as all of natural gas' treatment and conversion options. The offer includes technologies, equipment, furnaces, modular units, catalysts, adsorbents and related services. Axens is ideally positioned to cover the entire value chain, from feasibility study to unit start-up and follow-up throughout the entire unit cycle life. This unique position ensures the highest level of performance with a reduced environmental footprint. Axens global offer is based on highly trained human resources, modern production facilities and an extended global network for industrial, technical supports & commercial services. Axens is an IFP Group company.

About Sulzer

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. We specialize in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and application technologies for fluids of all types. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from our responsive network of 180 world-class manufacturing facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2020, our 15’000 employees delivered revenues of CHF 3.3 billion. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN).

The Chemtech division is the global market leader in innovative mass transfer, static mixing and polymer solutions for petrochemicals, refining and LNG. Chemtech is also leading the way in ecological solutions such as biopolymers as well as textile and plastic recycling, contributing to a circular economy. Our product offering ranges from technology licensing to process components all the way to complete separation process plants. Customer support ranges from engineering and field services to tray and packing installation, tower maintenance, welding and plant turnaround projects – ensuring minimal downtime. 

www.sulzer.com

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