Honeywell nets China downstream process technology contract

Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical will use Honeywell’s UOP C4 Oleflex process technology to produce isobutylene, a key ingredient for making high-octane fuel and synthetic rubber.

China is the world’s largest energy consumer and producer, according to the US Energy Information Administration, and it has an increasing need for fuel and everyday items such as tires, healthcare supplies and consumer products, which are produced from isobutylene.

“China needs to produce more isobutylene to support its rapidly increasing consumption needs, so we are pleased to announce another C4 Oleflex license to help meet this need,” said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president and general manager of UOP’s Process Technology and Equipment business unit. “Oleflex technology is proven to have the smallest environmental footprint, the lowest cash cost of production, and the highest return on investment compared with competing technologies, and we look forward to continuing to offer this value in China and other parts of the world.”

The new unit, which is expected to start up in 2016, will produce approximately 170,000 metric tons annually of isobutylene at its facility in Shandong Province, China. UOP will provide the engineering design, technology licensing, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, staff training and technical service for the project.

The C4 Oleflex process uses catalytic dehydrogenation to convert isobutane to isobutylene.

In addition to the C4 Oleflex process, UOP licenses its C3 Oleflex technology, a propane dehydrogenation (PDH) process to convert propane to propylene.

Since the technology was commercialised in 1990, UOP has licensed more than 40 Oleflex units, worldwide including 17 in butane service.