MOSCOW (MRC) -- Lummus Technology announced an award for a C4 acetylenes selective hydrogenation unit (AHU) from Korea Petrochemical Ind. Co. Ltd. (KPIC). The unit will be part of an expansion to KPIC’s Onsan Chemical Plant in Ulsan, Republic of Korea, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.
“With this additional technology award, Lummus will play an integral role in helping KPIC’s investments become more efficient and productive while reducing their waste streams,” said Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lummus Technology. “As the licensor of the existing technologies at KPIC’s site, we can readily integrate this add-on technology to the existing facility and successfully execute this project.”
“KPIC is excited to further strengthen its decades-long relationship with Lummus by licensing this additional unit,” said KPIC. “Making the investment to convert this waste stream into higher value products is a perfect example of KPIC’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental management.”
Once complete, the plant will process 37,000 MTA of feed to the AHU, leading to higher production rates of valuable butadiene and raffinate products. The installation of the new unit will prevent the burning of the byproduct stream as fuel, which in turn, results in lower emissions at the Onsan Chemical Plant. The unit will upgrade a byproduct waste stream by selectively hydrogenating C4 acetylenes to produce larger quantities of butadiene and raffinate products. These products will be used to produce rubber and supply KPIC’s olefins conversion unit.
Lummus’ project scope for this award includes license and basic engineering for the Lummus/BASF SELOP C4 acetylene selective hydrogenation technology. The BASF SELOP process is licensed by Lummus for C4 and C5 selective hydrogenation.
As MRC wrote before, earlier this month, Lummus Technology announced that it had executed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Braskem Netherlands B.V., a subsidiary of Braskem, the largest biopolymer producer in the world. The MOU is for the licensing of Braskem's green ethylene technology for two ethanol to ethylene conversion projects under development in North America and Asia, signaling a global interest in the technology.
Ethylene is the main feedstock for the production of polyethylene (PE).
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,868,160 tonnes in the first nine months of 2021, up by 18% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased.
Lummus Technology is the global leader in developing process technologies that make modern life possible and focus on a more sustainable, low carbon future. Lummus is a master licensor of clean energy, petrochemical, refining, gas processing and renewable technologies, and a supplier of catalysts, proprietary equipment, digitalization and related lifecycle services to customers worldwide.
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