Hydrocarbon Processing - October 2021 - 30

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Once again, economics are heav+
aromatics
ily dependent on values associated with
each stream at the site, the C8
stream specific composition and other
proprietary information. Considering
only material balance improvement and
disregarding additional benefits listed
earlier, the complex achieves an approximate
credit of $9 MM/yr on higher-value
products by implementing a selective
hydrogenation process on the heavy reformate
stream.
Selective hydrogenation performance:
Selectivity is key. High conversion
is usually achievable at the appropriate
set of conditions with a hydrogenation
catalyst. With maximization of aromatics
production being the primary incentive
for commercial deployment, selectivity is
the key parameter for selective hydrogenation
to make economic sense.
In streams containing mostly aromatics,
even minor hydrogenation side reactions
leading to partial loss of aromatics
are a huge obstacle. In the two examples
listed, where selective hydrogenation respectively
yields a credit of $4 MM/yr
and $9 MM/yr from a material balance
perspective, a few tenths of a percent of
non-selective hydrogenation would suffice
to erase all credits.
It is essential to hydrogenate olefins
selectively-i.e., without loss of aromaticity.
Since selectivity is first and
foremost a function of the catalyst used
in the process, adopting a catalyst with
state-of-the-art
selectivity is of paramount
importance.
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Recommendations. This assessment
shows that the addition of an inexpensive
process with pristine selectivity performance
can result in substantial production
credits and environmental footprint
reduction that will last for the life of an
aromatics complex. While no additional
capital spending is often the easiest path
in an existing facility, making no change is
sometimes more costly than investing in
incremental process improvement. Disregarding
losses that are not monitored can
be an expensive proposition in a highly
competitive environment.
Other
than the potential uses described
here, selective hydrogenation has
many applications in petrochemical complexes,
including potential applications in
aromatics facilities. One such application
involves olefins removal from the effluent
of a toluene methylation unit, which saves
the cost of a fractionation step.12
As initially pointed out, product losses
of a few percent can have a huge impact
on the economics of mega-scale facilities,
which is why selective hydrogenation is
increasingly integrated into the design of
grassroots complexes. The authors aim to
address this subject in a separate article.
LITERATURE CITED
1
" Crude oil to p-xylene, " HengLi Refinery PX
Complex, PEP Report 303, IHS Markit, December
2018.
2 " Crude oil
3
to p-xylene, " Zhejiang Refinery PX
Complex (Phase 1), PEP Report 303A, IHS
Markit, October 2019.
Durham, G. R. and R. S. Hebert, Patent US
5004851, " Process to produce aromatics of low
acid-wash color, " 1991.
4
Gonçalves da Silva, J. C., " Hybrid separations
and adsorption/reaction processes: The case of
isomerization/separation of xylenes, " PhD Thesis,
University of Porto, Portugal, 2015.
5
" Aluminum silicates-Advances in research and
application, " Q. A. Acton, Ed., in Ch. 3: " Zeolites, "
2013.
6
Lo, F. Y., D. L. Stern, R. J. Cimini and J. L. Propp,
Patent US 7214840, " Reduction of the bromine
index of linear alkylbenzenes, " 2007.
Complete literature cited available online at
www.HydrocarbonProcessing.com.
FAUSTINE CLAIRE is an expert in aromatics and
derivatives at Axens' gasoline and petrochemicals
business line in Rueil-Malmaison, France. She is
involved in development projects for reforming and
selective reformate hydrogenation technologies, as
well as for energy efficiency improvement for aromatics
complexes. Before joining Axens in 2019, she worked
for Foster Wheeler as a Process Engineer. Ms. Claire has
nearly 15 yr of experience in oil and petrochemicals.
She holds an MS degree in Chemistry from the National
Graduate School of Chemistry of Montpellier in France
and an MS degree in chemical engineering from the
Royal Institute of Technology of Stockholm in Sweden.
ARNAUD COTTE heads the aromatics and
derivatives technology group at Axens' gasoline and
petrochemicals business line in Rueil-Malmaison,
France. He has more than 15 yr of experience in the
oil and gas industry. He joined Axens in 2008 and
built almost 10 yr of expertise in the development
and deployment of aromatics technologies. Mr.
Cotte holds an MS degree in process and chemical
engineering from the National Graduate School of
Chemical Industry of Nancy in France and an MS
degree in refining, gas and engineering from the IFP
School of Rueil-Malmaison in France.
MICHEL MOLINIER is a consultant with Axens North
America for aromatics technologies and other
petrochemical processes. He has more than 20 yr
of experience in the petrochemical industry and 30
yr of experience in heterogeneous catalysis. He has
coauthored two book chapters, 30 peer-reviewed
articles and 25 US patents. Mr. Molinier holds an MS
degree in physical chemistry from the University of
Bordeaux in France and a PhD in solid state chemistry
from Philipps Universität Marburg in Germany.
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