Scale-up of two processes

31 March 1997 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Two new methods of desulphurisation for refinery use, one catalytic and one biocatalytic, are in the process of being scaled up in North America.

Houston-based Energy Biosystems is developing its diesel fuel biocatalytic technology in an agreement with the Canadian company Petro Star to build a 5000 bbl/day desulphurisation unit at its Valdez refinery in Alaska.

Meanwhile, a catalytic process for desulphurisation is being developed by the US firm, Interglobal Desulfurization Systems.

The Darcy process reacts vapours at pressures of less than 10psi with catalyst to enhance hydrocarbon quality and removes 99.5% by weight of sulphur in feed. The company is now trying to market the process, which has been successfully operated at pilot-plant scale.

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