China’s Lijin Petrochemical picks UOP technology for isobutylene project

Honeywell's UOP announced Thursday that its technologies have been selected to produce key ingredients for fuels and synthetic rubber in China.

China’s Lijin Petrochemical Plant Co. will use UOP's C4 Oleflex process to produce isobutylene, an important ingredient for fuels and synthetic rubber. This is UOP’s 15th Oleflex project in China in the past three years. 

Lijin Petrochemical also will use UOP's Butamer process, which converts n-butane into isobutane to increase feedstock flexibility for the UOP Oleflex process.

Lijin Petrochemical said it chose the Oleflex process over competing processes based on the superior economics, proven reliability and long track record of other UOP C4 dehydrogenation units operating around the world.

“As the need for fuels and petrochemical intermediates continues to grow around the globe, UOP is providing solutions that help producers meet local demand and capture a high return on their investment,” said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president and general manager of UOP's process technology and equipment business. 

“UOP’s Oleflex technology will be used in China to produce about 1 million metric tons annually of isobutylene, and we look forward to working with Lijin to make this project a success.”

The new unit, which is expected to start up in 2015, will produce 170,000 tpy of isobutylene at its facility in Shandong Province. UOP will provide the engineering design, technology licensing, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, staff training and technical service for the project.

Lijin Petrochemical is a subsidiary of the Lihuayi Group, one of the largest local petrochemical enterprises in China.