UNLOCKING HIGH VALUE XYLENES FROM LIGHT CYCLE OIL

摘要

Synergy between Refining and Petrochemicals is of greater interest than ever as companies strive ? Changes in product and by-product values ? Growing demand for clean diesel fuels ? Supplying feedstocks for petrochemical production Light Cycle Oil (LCO), has become a depressed value refinery stream due to ever more severe diesel specifications, making it a ripe candidate as an inexpensive feedstock to supply the starved aromatics petrochemical chain. This synergy between Refining and Petrochemicals can be achieved only if the key to unlocking the unique chemical value of LCO can be found. The rapid expansion of world aromatics markets and the search for increased amounts of Xylene feedstocks have been the driving forces at UOP to identify and develop this synergy between Refining and Petrochemicals for LCO. The result is the UOP LCO-XTM Process - a new process technology that produces high quality Xylenes from LCO. This accomplishment has required advanced analytical capabilities to identify the aromatic building blocks in LCO – techniques that go well beyond the basic physical and chemical properties required for most common refining and blending operations. Detailed knowledge of the feed properties, coupled with innovative flow schemes, optimized catalysts, and unique process conditions have resulted in a new technology that can allow significant added value tobe captured from LCO.