Oct-2022

Smarter and safer sulphur for refinery and petrochemical plants with SULSAFE

Refiners and petrochemical operators are looking for a sustainable replacement for dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), which is known to be hazardous in the industry.

Suhas Nair
Dorf Ketal

Article Summary

Ethylene producers want to improve ethylene yield and eliminate CS₂ impurity added with thermal decomposition of DMDS. Dorf Ketal has developed a green polymeric sulphiding agent (SulSafe) under the ‘Make in India’ initiative to overcome concerns with safety, domestic availability, and efficiency problems of DMDS.

Pilot study results of SulSafe and DMDS in ethylene have quantified the increased ethylene yield and CS₂ reduction with SulSafe. Demonstrated in ethylene furnaces across globe, the green technology also can replace DMDS in hydrotreater catalyst sulphidation application, proven in a pilot-scale hydrotreater.

Benefits in petrochemical furnaces
• Demonstrated up to 2% improved C₄ yield
• Extended furnace run length
• Effective CO control with less addition of sulphur than DMDS
• Improved coke control visible from reduced H₂ make
• CS₂ generation with SulSafe is nil
• Sustainable DMDS replacement
• Toxicity and irritation levels are lower
• No odour issues
• No handling issues from drum disposal
• Easier to control and verify injection rates

Benefits in Catalyst Sulphidation
• Optimum availability on catalyst surface
• Better sulphur laydown efficiency on catalyst
• Complete catalyst activation
• Safer activation for sustained hydrodesulphurisation
• Better hydrogen purity
• Less SOx emission
• Equivalent dosage to DMDS
• Unmatched health, safety, and environmental benefits

SA 400 Series for catalyst in-situ sulphidation
• Overcome reaction exotherm and minimise the risk of irreversible catalyst reduction
• Less excess sulphur, fewer SOx emissions from decreased or eliminated flaring of recycle gas
• Offers uniform sulphur distribution and consistent H₂S availability in a wide range of temperatures
• Can reduce the need for hydrogen make-up

DA 2600 series for Furnace Sulphidation
• Same level of CO formation and slightly lower coke
• Presents slightly higher yields of unsaturated molecules. Around 2% of ethylene yield increase was observed.
• Lower SO generation, reducing acid load to downstream unit

This short article appeared in the 2022 Refining India Newspaper, which you can view HERE