Catalysts manufactured in East Germany join the Journal's annual refining catalyst compilation for the first time.
Leuna-Werke AG of Leuna, East Germany, manufactures catalytic reforming, hydrocracking, mild hydrocracking, hydrotreating, and hydrorefining catalysts, among others.
The company offers almost 50 catalysts for these processing categories. The Leuna-Werke listings came too late for the OGJ annual catalyst report on Oct. 1 (see table). Also too late to make the report are new FCC catalysts offered by Akzo Chemicals Inc.
EAST GERMAN LISTING
Like all the refining enterprises in East Germany, Leuna Werke is restructuring from a state-planned economy to a free market operation (see OGJ, Oct. 1, p. 46). The ultimate objective is to make a profit. As a result, Leuna is actively promoting the sale and licensing of its catalysts. The company has had a catalyst research and development program under way for years. The accompanying table lists all the Leuna catalysts currently in production. This is the first listing of these catalysts that OGJ has been able to obtain. The company says it is currently producing some 2,000 tons/year of catalysts. Practically all of this is being employed at other former East Bloc refineries, including the largest in East Germany, PCK AG Schwedt, with 218,000 b/d of capacity. Leuna also uses the catalysts, particularly in the hydrocracking sector.
PCK Schwedt has a modern processing scheme with catalytic reforming, fluid catalytic cracking, visbreaking, hydrotreating, and mild hydrocracking. Leuna, as the table shows, does not make an FCC catalyst.
Hydrocracking is a hallmark of the 105,000 b/d Leuna refinery. It has converted nine reactors of varying sizes and wall thicknesses into hydrocrackers operating at 230 atm or 3,380 psi, giving the plant a capacity of 2 million ton/year or some 40,000 b/d of hydrocracking capacity. Four to six reactors are in operation at any given time.
The reactors are from the World War II era when they were used to hydrogenate and liquefy lignite for gasoline production.
In addition to hydrocracking catalysts, Leuna also makes mild hydrocracking catalysts for the Desus (desulfurization of heavy gas oil) process which was developed by PCK AG Schwedt. The process is in commercial operation at the Schwedt refinery and can be used in either the mild hydrocracking or hydrorefining mode.
ADVANCED ZEOLITES
The new FCC catalysts from Akzo Chemicals Inc. incorporate the ADZ-50 zeolite developed by Akzo. Designated Octavision, Vision, and Advance, the new catalysts are designed for premium octane, octane barrels, and maximum gasoline FCC operating modes.
The zeolite has also been incorporated into the line of FCC catalysts resulting from Akzo's merger with Filtrol Corp. last year. Designated Action, Horizon, and Access, the combined technologies of Akzo and Filtrol also address octane, octane barrels, and maximum gasoline modes of FCC operation.
The ADZ-50 zeolite is an improved Y zeolite with higher intrinsic stability and a homogeneous aluminum surface. The zeolite exhibits a strong carbenium ion activity for cracking and for the formation of branched compounds in the gasoline range. This emphasizes increased gasoline motor octane number rather than increased research octane number via increased gasoline olefinicity.
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