By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 18 -- Citgo Petroleum Corp., Tulsa, Tuesday confirmed that it has completed construction and successfully started up a new ISAL unit at its Lemont, Ill., refinery, the first such grass-roots unit built in the US.
The ISAL process removes sulfur from gasoline while maintaining the fuel's octane value. Such technology is critical to the refining process in meeting required TIER II fuel specifications that take effect in January 2004.
Intevep SA, the research and development branch of Venezuela's national oil company Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), conceived the ISAL process and partnered in 1995 with UOP LLC, Des Plaines, Ill., to complete its development. UOP licenses ISAL technology in the US.
"We are also designing an ISAL unit for our Corpus Christi, Tex., refinery," said Citgo president and CEO Luis Marín. He said all three US Citgo refineries would produce the cleaner-burning gasoline by their regulatory deadlines.
Citgo is a subsidiary of PDV America Inc., an indirect wholly owned PDVSA subsidiary.
