UOP produces new catalyst line in China
Published by Anna Nicklin,
Assistant Editor
Hydrocarbon Engineering,
Honeywell commenced production of UOP catalysts in China that are used to convert coal into plastics. The company has also inaugurated a new R&D project and engineering centre to support business development and meet growing engineering and technical service needs in Asia.
The new catalyst production line, located in Zhangjiagang in the Jiangsu Province, manufactures state-of-the-art catalysts used in Honeywell UOP’s advanced methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process technology, which converts methanol from coal and natural gas into the olefins that are used to make plastic resins and fibres. The heart of the MTO process is a proprietary catalyst that facilitates the conversion of methanol into olefins.
The facility in Zhangjiagang opened in 2015. In addition to MTO catalysts, it also produces catalysts used in Honeywell UOP’s OleflexTM process, which converts propane into propylene, and in continuous catalyst regeneration (CCR) PlatformingTM, which is used to produce high-octane gasoline.
While global demand for ethylene and propylene is growing by 4 – 5% per year, China is expected to invest more than US$100 billion in coal-to-chemicals technology by 2020. This would reduce China’s dependence on imported oil for the manufacture of plastics used to make millions of different products.
The company also celebrated the opening of its new engineering centre in Zhangjiagang. This will support Honeywell UOP’s technology delivery, project commissioning, ongoing technical support and revamp projects. In addition, the center will provide greater service capabilities, including new software-enabled services that improve the efficiency of refineries and petrochemical plants.
Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/product-news/25012018/uop-produces-new-catalyst-line-in-china/
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