Number of catalyst formulations stable in a tough market
Anne K. RhodesThe total number of catalysts available to refiners has remained essentially even since the last survey of refining catalysts was published (OGJ, Oct. 2, 1995, p. 35). Both the former and current surveys list about 900 catalysts.
Associate Managing Editor-News
The number of offerings in each category also has changed little, which is in contrast to an industry that is highly active.
The survey begins on p. 43. A guide to abbreviations used in the list is shown on the following page.
Survey changes
The number of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts has increased to 119 from 114 since the last survey. Among the changes of the past 2 years was a major reorganization of the offerings of Catalysts & Chemicals Industries Co. Ltd. (CCIC). The change has reduced to 6 from 13 the number of catalyst families, or general product groupings, that the company lists in the FCC category. CCIC's total number of FCC catalysts has fallen to 30 from 46.Grace Davison has increased its number of FCC catalysts by 10. It is not surprising that Davison registers the largest increase, because it is by far the biggest supplier of FCC catalysts.
Instituto Mexicano del Petr?leo and Intercat Inc. also have made significant additions to their FCC lists.
The largest supplier in the hydroprocessing arena, Criterion Catalyst Co. LP, has added 15 catalysts to its offerings in the Hydro treating/Hydrogenation/Saturation and Hydrorefining sections. Despite this expansion, smaller changes from other companies caused the total number of catalysts in those categories to remain about even during the past 2 years.
Another change in the survey is a decline in the number of steam hydrocarbon reforming catalysts to 70 from 85. This decrease is mostly the result of BASF's elimination of all but 1 of its previous 13 reforming catalysts.
Only one change has occurred in the companies listed in the survey this year. The former ARI Technologies Inc. is now called U.S. Filter/LO-CAT.
Industry developments
Global demand for FCC catalysts fell from 493,500 tons/year in 1995 to 470,000 tons/year in 1996.1 Despite a generally depressed industry, Akzo Nobel boosted FCC catalyst capacity by 60% at its Amsterdam plant.Asia is the only bright spot in an otherwise dire outlook for FCC catalysts. Engelhard last year signed a letter of intent with China Petrochemical Corp. to create a joint venture for FCC catalysts.
While the market for FCC catalysts remains highly competitive, the outlook for hydroprocessing catalysts is more favorable.
Current production of hydroprocessing catalysts is about 75,000 metric tons/year.1 Estimated demand increases range as high as 3,000 metric tons/year through 2000. Tightening sulfur specifications around the world are driving this trend.
Last year, Japan Energy Co., Itochu Corp., and the Japan International Development Organization formed a joint venture to produce desulfurization catalysts for heavy crude in Kuwait (OGJ, Oct. 28, 1996, p. 27). The new company-the first of its kind in the Middle east-will be called Kuwait Catalyst Co. The partners are investing $625 million in a 5,000 metric ton/year plant, due on stream next January.
Orient Catalyst Co. Ltd. and Degussa Corp. also formed a hydrotreating catalyst alliance last year (OGJ, July 1, 1996, p. 47). Orient is marketing catalysts made by Degussa in accordance with Orient's catalyst technology. The catalysts are produced at Degussa's Calvert City, Ky., catalyst plant.
Grace Davison completed a $40 million expansion of its Curtis Bay, Md., hydroprocessing catalyst plant. And Davison is building a new hydroprocessing catalyst plant at Lake Charles, La. The unit, due to be completed early next year, will have a capacity of 20 million lb/year.
Criterion Catalyst Co. LP started up a $20 million hydroprocessing catalyst plant in Singapore. The plant includes regeneration facilities and is a joint venture with CRI International Inc.
Criterion also has increased its alumina powder and extrudate manufacturing capacities. The company boosted alumina powder capacity at its Michigan City, Ind., plant more than 15%. And a new extrusion plant at its Pittsburgh, Calif., facility increased extrudate capacity there by more than 30%.
In a more forward-looking move, Criterion has invested more than $10 million in a new plant to make a novel hydrocracker pretreating catalyst. A production rate of 10 million lb/year should be reached early next year, says Criterion. The plant, at Michigan City, is based on a technology developed at Cytec Industries Inc.'s Stamford research laboratory under Criterion funding.
Reference
1. Rotman, David, and Walsh, Kerri, "Refinery suppliers face tough times," Chemical Week, Mar. 12, 1997, p. 36.Abbreviations for catalyst compilation
| ABD | Apparent bulk density |
| AGO | Atmospheric gas oil |
| Arom. | Aromatic or aromatics |
| Bott. | Bottoms |
| BTX | Benzene, toluene, xylenes (aromatics) |
| CGO | Coker gas oil |
| Cyl. | Cylinder |
| DAO | Deasphalted oil |
| De-N | Denitrogenated or de-nitrogenation |
| De-S | Desulfurized or desul-furization |
| Dist. | Distillate or distillates |
| DMO | Demetallized oil |
| DO | Diesel oil |
| Ext. | Extrudate |
| FCC | Fluid catalytic cracking |
| FO | Fuel oil |
| Gaso. | Gasoline |
| GO | Gas oil |
| HAGO | Heavy atmospheric gas oil |
| HC | Hydrocracking, hydro-cracked, or hydro-cracker |
| HCO | Heavy cycle oil |
| HDM | Hydrodemetallization |
| HDN | Hydrodenitrogenation |
| HDS | Hydrodesulfurization |
| HFO | Heavy fuel oil |
| HGO | Heavy gas oil |
| HP | High pressure |
| HSFO | High-sulfur fuel oil |
| HT | High temperature |
| HVGO | Heavy vacuum gas oil |
| Jet | Jet fuel |
| Kero. | Kerosine |
| L | Available under license only |
| LCO | Light cycle oil |
| LGO | Light gas oil |
| LP | Low pressure |
| LSFO | Low-sulfur fuel oil |
| LSR | Light straight run |
| LT | Low temperature |
| MHC | Mild hydrocracking |
| MS | Microsphere |
| Oct. | Octane |
| Olef. | Olefin or olefins |
| P | Proprietary |
| Py | Pyrolysis |
| RDS | Residual desulfurization |
| RE | Rare earth |
| REO | Rare earth oxide |
| Ref. | Reformer or reformate |
| SA | Surface area |
| Select. | Selective or selectivity |
| Sh. ext. | Shaped extrudate |
| Sph. | Sphere |
| Stab. | Stable or stability |
| SR | Straight run |
| UCS | Unit cell size |
| VGO | Vacuum gas oil |
| VI | Viscosity index |
| x | Unrestricted availability |
| Zeo. | Zeolite |
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