Sustainable, Value-added Technology Significantly Improves Safety of Refinery Processes and Hazards Associated with the Transportation and Handling of Liquid Acids
Oct. 15, 2009 (PR Newswire) --
BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Albemarle Corporation, (NYSE: ALB) www.albemarle.com, a global leader in developing innovative specialty chemicals, catalysts and sustainable clean energy solutions, along with its consortium partners Lummus Technology and Neste Oil, will receive the esteemed 2010 Award for Affordable Green Chemistry from the American Chemical Society, ("ACS") for AlkyClean, a cutting edge solid acid alkylation technology invented and commercialized by the three companies. The award will be presented at the 239th ACS National Meeting in March 2010.
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The AlkyClean solid acid alkylation process can significantly improve the safety of existing refinery processes and reduce potential hazards associated with transportation and handling of liquid acids used to produce alkylate, the high-octane blending component that is used to improve the antiknock value of fuels. Relying on patented technology combined with Albemarle's long-lasting and durable AlkyStar catalyst, the AlkyClean process provides refiners with a competitive, cleaner and inherently safer alkylation technology. No acid-soluble oils or spent acids are produced, and there is no need for product post-treatment of any kind to remove traces of acid. Besides these environmental advantages, the AlkyClean process has proven to be robust, requiring minimal maintenance.
"Refining companies have traditionally had two options for acid catalysts when it comes to alkylation, sulfuric acid or hydrofluoric acid. Both are liquids and neither one is ideal from a handling perspective," said John Kasbaum, division vice president of Albemarle's Fluid Catalytic Cracking group. "The AlkyClean process gives them an attractive, commercially viable option that reduces risk and improves operational economics."
"We believe AlkyClean is the leading solid acid alkylation technology in the world and we are honored to receive this recognition from ACS," Kasbaum concluded.
About Lummus Technology
Lummus Technology, a CB&I Company, is a leading player in licensing proprietary technologies to the oil and gas, petroleum refining and petrochemical process industries. Lummus Technology is part of CB&I (www.cbi.com), a leader in designing, engineering and constructing some of the world's largest energy infrastructure projects, providing a full spectrum of EPC solutions and proven process technologies.
