The Overall Performance of Novel Aromatics Isomerization Catalyst Reaches Internationally Advanced Level

On June 12, 2019 the project for commercial application of novel dealkylation type C8aromatics isomerization catalyst, which was jointly undertaken by the SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP) and the Shanghai Petrochemical Company (SPC), had passed the appraisal of achievements organized by the Science and Technology Division of Sinopec Corp. The appraisal committee after having recognized that the said technology has been on a par with the internationally advanced level in terms of its overall performance has made a proposal to speed up the dissemination and application of this isomerization catalyst.

The results of commercial application of this novel dealkylation type C8aromatics isomerization catalyst in the 600 kt/a PX unit at SPC have revealed that this catalyst had good performance, with an isomerization activity of 23.53%, an ethylbenzene conversion of 68.33%, and a xylene loss of 1.37%. Till now this catalyst has been continuously and smoothly working for 58 months to crank out products with stable quality in compliance with the environmental regulations. Upon listening to the introduction on the process of development and application of the catalyst SKI-210, the experts of the appraisal committee have unanimously admitted that this project has made great strides with innovations in the area of improvements in catalytic acidic components and introduction of modification technique to improve the reaction selectivity and to optimize the implementation of commercial application process. This catalyst at its first application in the commercial unit has demonstrated its good activity, selectivity and long-cycle catalytic stability, which can support the clients to improve the techno-economic indices of the integrated aromatics unit. Currently this technology has applied for two Chinese invention patents and one Sinopec proprietary technology with independent intellectual property rights.

In the field of xylene isomerization, RIPP boasts a history of nearly 40 years of research and development, while uninterruptedly introducing new technical achievements to make contribution to the development of aromatics industry in China. Over the past 20 years in the global domain of xylene isomerization RIPP is one of two patentees capable of providing both the isomerization type and dealkylation type technical solutions to continuously secure a commanding lead in this technical domain.