Clariant and its process partner Lummus have been awarded a major contract by Fujian Meide to supply CATOFIN technology and catalysts for a new propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in China.
Fujian Meide is now building one of the largest PDH units in the world and has selected the CATOFIN process and catalysts for the project’s second phase. The new unit will produce 900,000 metric tons of propylene annually and is scheduled to commence operation in 2023.
Stefan Heuser, senior vice president and general manager at Clariant Catalysts, said: “This strategic collaboration exemplifies our dedication to product innovation with ground-breaking chemistry, such as our heat generating material (HGM). As a result, HGM, together with new Lummus process technology, reduces energy consumption of the CATOFIN process by one-third, making it a low-carbon route to propylene production.”
Leon de Bruyn, president and CEO of Lummus Technology, added: “Our close partnership with Clariant has continued to improve CATOFIN over the years to the benefit of our customers. The process has a proven track record of excellent productivity, often even beyond design capacity (up to 110% on average), giving producers a significantly higher return on investment and more profitable daily operations. This has made it a global leader for propylene production.”
The CATOFIN process combines Lummus’s advanced technology with Clariant’s tailor-made catalysts and HGM to convert propane to propylene with exceptional reliability. Since its commercial launch in 2017, CATOFIN has been selected for 34 new projects around the world, representing more than 24,000 kilotons of new propylene capacity annually. Over 50% of these plants are located in China.
Clariant and Lummus awarded contract for one of the world’s largest PDH units
