Process Technology

The Hydroprocessing alliance – aligned to offer you more

In 2006, Albemarle and UOP created the Hydroprocessing Alliance to deliver integrated refinery solutions and innovative hydroprocessing technologies and catalysts to the refining industry. Today, the Alliance provides economic benefits and greater flexibility to customers through the most comprehensive portfolio of processes, catalysts, equipment and services available in the industry.

The Alliance combines Albemarle’s latest hydrocracking pretreatment catalyst, UOP’s latest hydrocracking catalysts and an enhanced integration of the two for new and existing units. This combination enables refiners to experience longer cycle lengths, greater operational robustness, a wider choice for selectivity to the desired products and lower operational and capital costs. In addition to its leading position in ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and hydrocracking applications, the Alliance has successful catalyst and process offerings for coker naphtha, VGO and residue hydrotreating.

Through Albemarle and UOP’s combined strengths in hydroprocessing catalysis and a comprehensive technology portfolio, refiners will find the solution that meets their specific operational goals. Catalyst system customization completed during the design phase using UOP’s engineering capabilities results in units optimized for product quality and yield, utilities consumption and erected cost. Customers can take comfort in knowing that the reliable catalyst and design will continuously produce on-specification products. In hydrotreating alone, UOP has licensed more than 65 Unionfining units utilizing the step-out performance of Albemarle’s catalysts. The Alliance has also accelerated innovations in process design and a shorter time-to-market for new catalysts. It has enabled refineries to meet complex project demands with lower capital cost and greater operational robustness.

Albemarle STA X™ technology

Albemarle introduced STA X technology as a method for designing catalyst systems optimized for the particular reactions occurring inside a hydrotreater. Key to this technology is the ability to “see” the reactions of key molecular species in the reactor and to develop a simulation model to predict performance at every point. By understanding where these key reactions occur, optimal catalyst system designs can be created to meet the specific needs of every customer.

Examples of unique design features include catalyst systems that meet:

• Maximum hydrodesulfurization with constrained hydrogen consumption
• Maximum cetane uplift up to the unit’s hydrogen limit
• Maximum cycle length at a specific sulfur target
• Simultaneous sulfur and volume gain targets

Furthermore, STA X technology is used to determine the optimum placement and use of the highest activity catalyst in the industry, NEBULA®. STA X technology is an integral part of Albemarle’s comprehensive technical service support for selecting the right catalyst system for every customer.