Nearly 150 of the downstream processing industry’s leading players gathered recently to find out, and celebrate, the winners of the 2018 Hydrocarbon Processing (HP) Awards. At the awards ceremony, which seeks to recognize and honor the midstream and downstream processing industries’ top innovations and innovators, DuPont Clean Technologies won “Best Refining Technology” for its ConvEx℠ HF Alkylation Conversion Technology. Accepting the award for DuPont was Shane Presley, technical service and development manager. Shane and Jason Nunez, senior technical service engineer, were instrumental in developing the award-winning technology.
Hydrocarbon Processing Award Winners
From the gala event in Houston, Texas, honorees took home awards in 12 categories —10 paying tribute to the latest technological advances in the hydrocarbon processing industry and two people awards. Category winners were singled out for their influential role in enabling refinery, petrochemical and gas processing/LNG operators to optimize their operations.
Eli Ben-Shoshan, global business leader, DuPont Clean Technologies said, “We have worked with the refining industry for decades and understand the pressures our customers and the industry face. Refiners must meet current clean fuel demands while ensuring a safe operating environment for employees and the surrounding communities. While we’re thrilled to win this prestigious award, we’re even more excited to bring this cost-effective HF alkylation conversion and expansion technology to the market.”
With worldwide demand for higher-octane fuels growing, petroleum refiners increasingly look to alkylate as the gasoline blending component of choice. As there is a worldwide shortage, the ability to produce alkylate onsite locally is extremely beneficial for refiners and offers a host of advantages including high octane, low sulfur, low vapor pressure and the elimination of aromatics and olefins.
Over 40 percent of the existing alkylation facilities in the world employ hydrofluoric acid (HF) as the catalyst for the alkylation reaction. Concerns with the toxicity of HF are pressuring refiners to reconsider its use. The new DuPont™ ConvEx℠ technology is the first to offer refiners a significantly safer and cost-effective option for producing alkylate by converting existing HF alkylation assets to sulfuric acid alkylation units. The DuPont™ ConvEx℠ technology has the added benefit of allowing for an increase in the design capacity of existing alkylation units by 100 percent, or more at 40-60 percent of the cost of a grassroots sulfuric acid alkylation unit, decidedly lower than any other option available on the market.
About DuPont Clean Technologies
DuPont Clean Technologies applies real-world experience, history of innovation, problem-solving success and strong brands to help organizations operate safely and with the highest level of performance, reliability, energy efficiency and environmental integrity. The Clean Technologies portfolio includes the MECS® sulfuric acid production and regeneration technologies; the IsoTherming® hydroprocessing technology for desulfurization of motor fuels; the STRATCO® alkylation technology for production of clean, high-octane gasoline; the BELCO® air quality control systems for FCC flue gas scrubbing and other refinery scrubbing applications; the MECS® DynaWave® technology for sulfur recovery and tail gas-treating solutions; and a comprehensive suite of aftermarket service and solutions offerings. Learn more about DuPont Clean Technologies at www.cleantechnologies.dupont.com.
About DowDuPont Specialty Products Division
DowDuPont Specialty Products, a division of DowDuPont (NYSE: DWDP), is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials, ingredients and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, building and construction, health and wellness, food and worker safety. DowDuPont intends to separate the Specialty Products Division, which will be called DuPont, into an independent, publicly traded company.