On-purpose Propylene
Catalysts for on-purpose propylene production and the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons
‘On purpose’ propylene production growing in importance
In recent years, many olefin cracker operators have shifted to lighter feedstock. They are now producing lower levels of propylene and higher olefins. The gap between the supply of C3, C4 and higher olefins compared to the growing demand continues to widen. Therefore, so called ‘on purpose’ technologies for the production of propylene and other olefins have become more important.
Houdry® catalysts
Developed by Eugene Houdry in 1942, the Houdry® process for olefin production is one of the earliest petrochemical technologies. Since the 1990s, the Houdry® process has been utilized for the production of propylene by dehydrogenation of propane (Catofin® technologies). Recent improvements made by Clariant have helped to boost the competitiveness and reliability for dehydrogenation processes.
Houdry® process catalysts are high performance catalysts for the dehydrogenation and dealkylation of hydrocarbons. Our leading products are used in major petrochemical processes, such as on-purpose propylene production:
Catofin® Propane to Propylene
Isobutane to Isobutylene
Butane to Butylenes
Mix Paraffins to OlefinsCatadiene® Butane to Butadiene
Isopentane to IsoprenePyrotol® Pyrolysis petrol to Benzene Litol® Light Oil to Benzene Detol® Toluene to Benzene Catofin®
Catofin® is the technology licensed by McDermott for light paraffins dehydrogenation of Propane to Propylene, and other reactions. McDermott has exclusive worldwide licensing rights to the technology. McDermott is one of the world’s leading engineering, procurement and construction companies and a major process technology licensor.
The Catofin® process uses fixed-bed reactors with a catalyst and operating conditions that are selected to optimize the complex relationship among conversion, selectivity and energy consumption.
Heat Generating Material – the new standard for Catofin Technology
Heat input to the catalyst bed has been a critical limiting factor for the dehydrogenation process. The Heat Generating Material (HGM) is an innovative metal-oxide material which is designed to significantly increase selectivity and yield of Catofin units. The material is loaded into the catalyst bed with the catalyst where it undergoes oxidation and reduction during the operating cycle, producing heat and driving the dehydrogenation reaction. This not only boosts yields and saves energy, but also reduces emissions.
Conversion of Methanol to Propylene (MTP™)
To cover the growing demand for on-purpose propylene production derived from flexible C1-Cx feedstock, Air Liquide and Clariant have jointly developed the Methanol to Propylene (Lurgi MTP™) technology. It incorporates both process and catalyst needs. The technology has been proven and referenced with several plants in commercial operation located in China.
Air Liquide’s Lurgi MTP™ process combines an efficient reactor system with our highly selective MTPROP® catalyst family. These zeolite-based catalysts convert methanol to propylene in the presence of steam. MTPROP® offers high thermal and physical robustness to facilitate a long catalyst lifetime.
