ARTICLES
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Spent sulphuric acid regeneration (SAR) process
May-2012
Several chemical processes utilise concentrated sulphuric acid as a catalyst or dehydrating agent, in which the acid becomes “spent”; ie, weakened ...
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Catalytic reforming options and practices
Apr-2010
Design and practice in catalytic reforming is evolving to meet refinery challenges, including lower gasoline pool benzene content and increased demand ...
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Jan-2008
Highly exothermic olefins saturation and silica contamination can occur when hydrotreating coker naphtha.
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Apr-2003
A review of the use of chloride guard beds to treat liquid phase and gas phase streams to prevent operational problems from hard-to-detect organic chlorides, ...
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Understanding FCC feeds and benefits to refinery operation
Apr-2015
In this work, over one hundred FCC feed samples, originating from diverse geographic locations and consisting of assorted FCC refinery streams, were a ...
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Jul-2013
A simulation model compares accurately with actual operating data to provide reliable predictions of catalyst lifetime in naphtha reforming
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Co-processing alternative feedstocks through the FCC
Apr-2023
Decarbonise your FCC by co-processing alternative feedstocks, and enhance the incorporation of biogenic carbon in products.
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Mar-2012
The source of a fouling problem in a FCC CO boiler was identified by systematic analysis of fresh catalysts, additives and equilibrium catalysts
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Mercury removal in hydrocarbon streams
Mar-2009
The presence of mercury in refinery hydrocarbon streams results in detrimental effects, including catalyst poisoning, corriosion and safety issues
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Pre-reformer catalyst in a hydrogen plant
Apr-2020
Good operation following recommended practice with technical support highlight the successful performance of a pre-reformer catalyst.
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Residue desulphurisation and conversion
Apr-2006
The current market forces that presage a boom in resid hydrotreatment are examined along with recently reported progress in technology
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Chloride removal in refineries
Mar-2011
A review of catalytic removal of chlorides from refinery streams and a critique of current analytical techniques for estimating chloride content
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Meeting Euro IV fuel specifications
Jan-2006
Pretreating technology and special catalysts can help refiners meet the current and forthcoming European environmental regulations and improve their FCCU ...
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HCN emissions in fluid catalytic cracking
Apr-2013
Increased attention to refinery emissions of hydrogen cyanide requires detailed understanding of its formation and conversion in the FCC regenerator
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Choosing a selective hydrogenation system
Oct-2002
Data has shown the effectiveness of palladium catalyst for the removal of diolefins and acetylenes in steam cracking as well as catalytic cracking
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Refinery fuel gas in steam reforming hydrogen plants
Mar-2012
Fuel gas is an attractive feedstock for hydrogen production, but appropriate 
catalysts and temperature control are needed to address high olefin ...
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Minimising FCC slurry exchanger fouling
Jan-2008
A case study shows when to expect reductions in slurry / FCC preheat exchanger duty from a variety of factors, including organic and inorganic-based f ...
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Comparison of thermal cracking and hydrocracking yield distributions
Sep-2011
Obtaining the maximum performance from existing residua upgrading equipment is achieved by maximum asset utilisation.
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Maximise ethylene gain and acetylene selective hydrogenation efficiency
Mar-2013
Third-generation stabilised front-end selective acetylene hydrogenation catalysts provide high selectivity, low sensitivity to CO swings and slow deac ...
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Catalyst filling in a fixed bed tubular reactor
Apr-2017
A reactor filling methodology ensures even reactant distribution and pressure drop
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Maximising premium distillate by catalytic dewaxing
Feb-2011
Advances in technology for catalytic dewaxing of distillates by isomerisation provide improved activity
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Dealing with mercury in refinery processes
Jul-2010
The effects of mercury contamination on operations, and its treatment, are emerging issues for refiners
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Understanding cloud point and hydrotreating relationships
Feb-2013
As the distillate markets allow for increased distribution worldwide, refiners need to be more aware of the additional product specifications that can ...
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Interpreting FCC equilibrium 
catalyst data
Apr-2018
Regular Ecat and fines analysis provides information to support optimum performance from the FCC.
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The FCC unit as a propylene source
Jul-2007
Hardware and catalyst design changes can increase the propylene yield, but ZSM-5 and other additives are essential to optimise and retain the flexibility ...
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Optimising FCC economics against changing market dynamics
Mar-2023
CO promoters are a frequently overlooked parameter for better control of afterburning, as demonstrated in a case study amidst a changing platinum group ...
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Boosting mild hydrocracking performance
Aug-2020
Optimising its mild hydrocracking operations using new catalyst developments enabled a refinery to meet more complex targets for fuel quality.
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Refinery’s performance confirms catalyst testing
Jun-2021
Commercial results from a naphtha reformer are a close match with data from micro-pilot plant tests.
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Enhancing flexibility in two-stage hydrocrackers
Aug-2022
Shifting markets and refined product priorities compels refiners to find the flexibility for shifting from middle distillate to naphtha for petrochemical ...
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Pilot plant studies of hydrotreating catalysts
May-2020
Studies of catalysts for hydrotreating lubricant base oil delivered similar results from conventional and high throughput pilot plants
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Jan-2008
Highly exothermic olefins saturation and silica contamination can occur when hydrotreating coker naphtha.
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Hydrocracker revamp lifts product flexibility
Nov-2020
How an innovative moving bed technology enabled a major refinery to improve residue conversion and crude flexibility.
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Catalytic answer to a steam cracking challenge
Apr-2021
Rapid growth in steam cracker capacity has encountered a developing problem — contamination of opportunity naphtha feed by carbon disulphide.
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Rejuvenated catalysts optimise refinery margins in high severity ULSD applications
Jun-2022
Rejuvenated catalysts compare well with fresh catalysts for performance in high pressure ULSD applications with added cost savings.
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Minimising unwanted coke formation in FCC operations
Apr-2023
Design and operating practices to minimise the amount and effects of unwanted coke formation in FCC operations.
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What is sintering in relation to catalyst deactivation and how can it be avoided? (PTQ Q&A)
Oct-2020
Response to a question in the Q3 2020 issue of PTQ
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Apr-2021
An alumina-supported catalyst for ULSD production or hydrocracking pretreat provides longer catalyst cycles, higher throughput, and better product qua ...
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Tools for FCC unit troubleshooting
Nov-2022
Strategies, resources, and technology can help to rapidly identify potential operational problems in FCC units targeted for upgrading and optimisation ...
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On-demand propylene from naphtha
Jun-2017
A new catalytic process targets economic production of propylene from naphtha at relatively low capital and operating costs
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Reducing NOx emissions from an FCC unit (TIA)
Aug-2018
Refinery processes account for a considerable share of the overall emissions of air pollutants in Europe. The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is the ...
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Oil-to-chemicals: new approaches
Jul-2020
A review of developments and trends in the expanding business of oil-to-chemicals.
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FCC catalyst boosts bottoms upgrade
Nov-2020
A combination of novel matrix technologies in a new FCC catalyst increased bottoms upgrading of residual feeds and improved profitability.
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What type of catalyst do we need for low pressure hydrotreating of middle distillates?
Feb-2021
Responses to a question in the Q1 2021 issues Q&A Feature
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Navigating environmental complexities at pace
Nov-2022
Revamping existing hydrogen plants can provide a significant and lasting impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions towards net zero.
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Pre-reformer catalyst in a hydrogen plant
Apr-2020
Good operation following recommended practice with technical support highlight the successful performance of a pre-reformer catalyst.
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Interpreting FCC equilibrium 
catalyst data
Apr-2018
Regular Ecat and fines analysis provides information to support optimum performance from the FCC.
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Evaluating quickly deactivating catalytic systems (TIA)
Nov-2018
Avantium provides contract research services for high throughput catalysis R&D. For some years now, Avantium has been helping refineries select the best ...
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Automating catalyst evaluation (TIA)
Nov-2019
Accurate evaluation of catalysts performance is an important step in optimising catalytic refinery processes with respect to product yields, run length, ...
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Transition to net zero: steps to decarbonise the oil refining industry
May-2022
A review of the solutions being employed by oil refineries to reduce their Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
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Role of FCC process and catalysts in the energy transition
Aug-2022
In the evolving circular economy, proper leveraging of FCC technology and operations can deliver value for refiners in the decades going forward.
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Evaluating purchased feedstocks for hydrocrackers and hydrotreaters
Sep-2023
(White Paper) - Over the years in my career, I came to respect traders who could locate, negotiate, and purchase cheap feedstocks. The good traders seemed ...
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Proactively preventing reactor runaway events
Aug-2023
A quantitative method for selecting emergency actions could prevent hydrocracker reactor temperature excursion and runaway while avoiding flaring.
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Improve energy efficiency of your hydrocracking unit
Aug-2023
Reduced fuel firing in HCU product fractionators enables higher diesel yields and improved product properties while reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
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Structured catalyst reactor system for steam methane reforming
Aug-2023
Results from pilot plant test programme confirm significant advantages and value creation. Steam methane reforming is the predominant and most widely used ...
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Practical considerations for the design of adsorbent beds
Jul-2023
Refineries have to achieve outstanding reliability and in order to obtain this, they must ensure they optimise the lifetime of molecular sieves. Oil and ...
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Innovations in industrial zeolite mesoporisation deliver robust catalytic benefits in hydrocracking
Jul-2023
As the key value generator in many established refineries, increasing the output towards desired fractions in a hydrocracker is a major commercial and ...
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Maximising renewable feed co-processing at an FCC
Jul-2023
Collaboration is key to accelerate the energy transition and make best use of existing assets, like the FCC unit.
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Predicting hydrotreater performance while co-processing vegetable oil
Jul-2023
Catalyst performance prediction model based on test data assesses the impact of co-processing renewable feedstocks for optimal hydrotreater operations ...
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Olefins production pathways with reduced CO2 emissions
Jul-2023
Regulations call for use of renewable feedstocks and electrification via unconventional, sustainable, and circular routes to ethylene, propylene, and other ...
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Reduce the carbon footprint of tail gas treating with reactivated catalysts
May-2023
Times have changed since catalytic processes were established.
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Co-processing alternative feedstocks through the FCC
Apr-2023
Decarbonise your FCC by co-processing alternative feedstocks, and enhance the incorporation of biogenic carbon in products.
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Unrevealed additional WASA additive performance at European refinery
Apr-2023
Study of the response of winter and summer grade diesel fuels to static dissipator additive and the effect of other additives on the electrical conductivity ...
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Minimising unwanted coke formation in FCC operations
Apr-2023
Design and operating practices to minimise the amount and effects of unwanted coke formation in FCC operations.
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Mitigating FCC gas plant impacts when increasing reactor LPG yields
Apr-2023
Increasing FCC reactor LPG yields at the expense of gasoline increases profitability, but equipment downstream of the converter requires modifications ...
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From thermal maldistribution to cycle length extension
Apr-2023
How Tüpraş enhanced the performance of a distillate hydroprocessing unit by cost effectively cracking more of the heavier components to diesel.
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Anti-fouling additives to improve heavy oil processing
Apr-2023
A continuous pilot testing evaluation shows how magnesium sulphonated-based nano-additive is highly effective in mitigating and reducing upgrader/refinery ...
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Kinetic model for TGU hydrogenation reactors: Part 2 Catalyst model validation
Apr-2023
A rigorous high-fidelity kinetic model can help designers and operators forecast the life expectancy of reactor catalyst beds.
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Benefits of simultaneous mesoporisation/metal incorporation
Mar-2023
With the emerging shift towards a sustainable and renewable refining and petrochemical industry, the use of tailored metal-based catalysts is likely to ...
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Reactivated catalysts can offer sustainability benefits in TGTUs
Mar-2023
Refiners can reduce operating costs and carbon emissions while retaining performance through conversion of reactivated hydroprocessing catalysts as tail ...
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Co-processing renewables in a hydrocracker
Mar-2023
Understanding and controlling the impact on catalyst performance, yields, and product properties is key to renewables co-processing in hydrocracking u ...
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Optimising FCC economics against changing market dynamics
Mar-2023
CO promoters are a frequently overlooked parameter for better control of afterburning, as demonstrated in a case study amidst a changing platinum group ...
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Lessons from FCC history: through Covid and post economic recovery
Mar-2023
An updated and in-depth look at FCC catalyst history, spanning two decades, reveals trends pre-Covid, during Covid, and post the recent economic recov ...
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Advances in catalyst sulphiding and passivation
Mar-2023
By continuously measuring H2S and hydrogen levels, online analysers provide real-time analysis of a hydrocracking reactor’s recycle gas and a data stream ...
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Increasing refinery profitability via propylene maximisation
Mar-2023
Case study at medium-sized US Midwest refinery on increasing FCC propylene via ZSM-5-based additive technology.
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Improved diesel hydrotreating catalyst loading scheme
Mar-2023
A European refiner used an independent catalyst testing approach to confirm their existing hydrotreating unit’s ability to cope with different LCO blending ...
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Evaluating purchased feedstocks for hydrocrackers and hydrotreaters
Sep-2023
(White Paper) - Over the years in my career, I came to respect traders who could locate, negotiate, and purchase cheap feedstocks. The good traders seemed ...
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