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Sonatrach to use Honeywell technologies to produce cleaner-burning high-octane fuels

Published by , Editorial Assistant
Hydrocarbon Engineering,


Honeywell has announced that Sonatrach S.p.A. will use a suite of Honeywell UOP technologies to produce 200 000 tpy of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a high-octane gasoline additive that reduces emissions in automobile exhaust.

Honeywell will provide technology licensing, design services, key equipment and catalysts and adsorbents for the project at Sonatrach's refinery in Arzew, Algeria.

MTBE is produced from a chemical reaction between methanol, which typically is derived from natural gas, and isobutylene, which is derived from butane obtained from crude oil or natural gas. Owing to its high octane number, it is an effective anti-knocking fuel additive to produce cleaner-burning gasoline.

Included in the technology package is UOP's Butamer technology, which isomerises normal butane into isobutane. UOP has more than 85 Butamer units currently in operation worldwide.

The package also includes a UOP C4 Oleflex unit to dehydrogenate isobutane into isobutylene. C4 Oleflex features low energy consumption, low emissions and a fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system which minimises environmental impact. Honeywell UOP has been awarded 55 dehydrogenation projects since 2011.

The contract also includes a UOP Ethermax unit that converts isobutylene and methanol into a high-octane MTBE blending agent that contains no benzene or aromatics. The Ethermax technology delivers a high MTBE yield and is currently used in 44 units worldwide.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/01112018/sonatrach-to-use-honeywell-technologies-to-produce-cleaner-burning-high-octane-fuels/

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