Current Issue: March 2024

The authors’ company has developed a commercial chemical process^a for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODH-E). By means of a heterogeneous catalyst, ethane and oxygen are selectively converted into ethylene and acetic acid, which, after separation and purification, are provided in polymer-grade and glacial quality, respectively.

Today, the world produces twice as much plastic waste as it did two decades ago, with the majority ending up in landfills, being incinerated or leaking into the environment.

Polyolefins products such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) form approximately 65%–70% of all polymers manufactured globally.

Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) II regulations restrict the average benzene level in gasoline sold in the U.S. to 0.62 vol%. In India and in several other countries, benzene in gasoline is presently restricted to 1 vol%. Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline contributes to nearly 10%–20% of the gasoline pool in a typical refinery.

As the global energy system continues to be threatened by geopolitical tensions, the refining industry continues to demonstrate an outstanding capacity for adaptation.

Product pellets produced in polyolefin plants—such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP)—require transportation from the unit to the end users that process these pellets to manufacture different end-use plastic products.

The methane (CH₄) pyrolysis process [also known as CH₄ cracking or turquoise hydrogen (H₂) production] is a thermal (high-temperature) breakdown of CH₄ into H₂ gas and solid carbon.

Throughout the last two decades, LNG technology improvements have built a global natural gas market. This globalization has led to an increase in demand, but also an increase in instability, as changing global events and the drive towards increased sustainability in energy sources have created market fluctuations from all directions.

Calculating pipe diameters through long, straight pipes is executed in classic fluid flow problems using traditional trial-and-error methods or by complex equations.

Flare gas meters are used in facilities such as oil rigs, refineries and chemical plants to measure the gas flows in flare lines. In many parts of the world, this is a regulatory requirement.

Design engineers put forth their best efforts to forecast all risks for their processing plant and strive to embed optimum controls in design, commissioning, operations and maintenance to prevent these risks during the plant’s lifecycle.

Hot storage tanks in petrochemical facilities, terminals and industrial sites globally house valuable and often volatile products, including organic liquids, raw materials, intermediate fuels and byproducts.

Over the next 25 yr, global petrochemicals demand is forecast to increase exponentially, rising from approximately 450 MMtpy in 2025 to > 500 MMtpy in 2035 and upwards to nearly 600 MMtpy by 2050.

Welcome to <i>Hydrocarbon Processing’s</i> new Executive Series. In this enhanced video platform, the editors speak with the operators and technology leaders and suppliers that are optimizing the global hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI).

The global chemical industry faced a challenging year in 2023. Various factors contributed to sluggish demand growth for chemicals globally, including the European recession, U.S. inflation and a lower-than-expected chemical demand rebound in China. These factors resulted in global chemical market growth of < 1% in 2023, with many producers experiencing lower output.

Gulf Energy Information’s Global Energy Infrastructure (GEI) database is tracking more than 1,100 active projects in the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI).

In late 2023, Emerson released its Fisher™ FIELDVUE™ DVC7K Digital Valve Controller, a new design improving upon 30 yr of field-proven innovation.

Nadja Håkansson appointed CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde