Why Europe's Chemical Industry Needs new Technologies

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Brief Summary: From Propane to Propylene

THE FULL RANGE OF ON-PURPOSE PROPYLENE TECHNOLOGIES

Three industrial propane dehydrogenation processes are currently available on the market. Honeywell’s UOP Oleflex process, Lummus Technology’s Catofin process and the Star process developed by Thyssen Krupp Industrial Solutions (Uhde). All three processes are catalyst-controlled, propane-based and run at 550–650 °C with slight underpressure or overpressure.

Ethylene and butylene are the feedstock for olefin metathesis. The process involves the scission of butene and ethene double-bonds followed by their regeneration under catalyst control. Lummus offers an olefin metathesis process which is used industrially.

The methanol-to-propylene process is based on syngas which is produced by coal gasification. Methane is converted to propylene under catalyst control. Industrial processes are available from UOP, Air Liquide and DTP Mitsubishi Chemical/JGC.

From Butan to Butadiene

Butadiene is also affected by shortages in the C4 chain, making things particularly difficult for rubber manufacturers, as most butadiene produced worldwide is used in tire production. The butadiene shortage is already a reality, said Lanxess CEO Matthias Zachert at the Handelsblatt conference. Most of the butadiene currently used worldwide is sourced from naphtha crackers and in contrast to propylene, on-demand technology is still in its infancy to a certain extent.

Butane/butene dehydrogenation currently suffers from poor process yields, and for many years the technology has been uneconomical. However now that all of the analysts are predicting higher butadiene prices, technology companies are sensing a major opportunity.

Lummus already has the catodiene dehydrogenation process. In June, UOP entered into a partnership with butadiene producer TPC to drive continued development of Oxo-D technology. Mitsubishi Chemical presented an oxidative butene dehydrogenation process at the Aiche Congress in March. Linde and BASF are also working together on the technology.

The new process will provide a direct route from butane to budadiene via a butene stage. BASF is responsible for process technology, catalysts and extraction technologies. Linde will contribute its expertise in process integration, optimization and commercialization.

The main objective is to “develop an efficient process featuring optimal integration over the entire process chain,” explained Dr. Ernst Haidegger (Linde). The race to catch up is already underway. From the process engineering perspective, the Europeans are well positioned to compete.

* * The author is Senior Editor with PROCESS.Contact: anke.geipel-kern@vogel.com

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Shale Gas

Why Europe's Chemical Industry Needs new Technologies

From Butan to Butadiene