IPCL gets US patent for catalytic process

13-Apr-05

In addition to over six dozen patents already held, Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. (IPCL) has got the US patent for its selectivated metallosilicate catalyst composite for hydrocarbon conversion. The heart of the process is zeolite-based proprietary catalyst. The catalyst and the process have been developed after rigorous research at IPCL. The existing patents include the development of commercial bimetallic reforming and the new generation xylene isomerisation catalyst 'Encilte'. The invention relates to the development of catalyst and process for alkylation of toluene by methanol to produce paraxylene selectivity by employing selectively activated metallosilicate zeolite catalyst. The process for production paraxylene developed by IPCL is less complex, efficient, economical and environment friendly. This marks a significant step in paraxylene business as the process is quite competitive compared to the existing commercial processes being deployed world wide. With this patent, IPCL joins MNCs such as UOP, Exxon-Mobil, and IFP amongst others. IPCL has co operated along with US based GTC Technology Ltd., for pilot plant trials and commercialisation of process for methylation of toluene for production of paraxylene.