Four indigenized catalysts used in the petrochemical industry unveiled in Iran

04-Oct-11

Four indigenized catalysts for use in the petrochemical industry have been unveiled at Iran’s Petrochemical Research and Technology Company. Western states had imposed sanctions on the procurement of the catalysts, as per Iran Daily. One of these catalysts pertains to dehydrogenization of light and heavy paraffin. Domestic production of this catalyst began in 2008 and continued to 2010 with its design, construction, installing and commissioning as a pilot project. Some 15 kilograms of the catalyst were produced on pilot scale and then used in Bandar Imam's MTBE Unit's dehydrogenization reactor for testing. Later, it was used in the said unit and also LAB unit of Bisotoun Petrochemical Complex. It is also predicted that the catalyst be used in Propane Dehydrogenization (PDH) units of Salman Petrochemical Complex in Bandar Imam and Mehr Petro Kimia Petrochemical Complex in Assaluyeh. These units, which will become operational in the next three years, will produce propylene from propane by utilizing oxy dehydrogenization method. The next catalyst is linked to production of Acetic Acid and it is currently among items on which sanctions have been imposed. The catalyst was successfully tested at Fanavaran Petrochemical Company. Results of the test show that quality and standard of this catalyst equal that of its foreign counterpart. Another catalyst is called ABC and it was tested for the first time at Jam Petrochemical Complex's polyethylene industrial unit. The fourth catalyst produced in the country is called SAC. It was produced for the first time in the country on an industrial scale and it was tested at Maroon Petrochemical Complex's heavy polyethylene unit. With the production of this catalyst, dependence on foreign firms has been curbed and about $35 million can be saved each year. Ethylene production units in Kermanshah, Mamasani, Dehdasht, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Darab, Bafq, Ferdos, Zahedan and Birjand petrochemical complexes can use this catalyst.