Axens announces the arrival of the HR 500 hydrotreating catalyst series to the marketplace at its European Refining Conference on Monday, 17 November in London. Developed and manufactured using Advanced Catalytic Engineering (ACE™) technology, the catalysts have a common outstanding feature: a dual-activity function consisting of strong desulfurization and denitrogenation activities.

ACE technology has evolved from comprehensive adsorption modeling studies carried out at IFP, detailed feedstock and effluent analyses and appropriately adapted manufacturing facilities and affords sub-micron level control for catalyst production. Catalyst testing under ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) conditions demonstrates that the HR 500 series exhibits significantly lower reaction temperatures and major improvements in relative volume activity compared to other catalysts. ACE technology enables the catalysts to perform better, longer and with less inventory, making these products ideal for the catalyst replacement market. Also, the catalysts need no post-regeneration chemical treatment for re-use.

Four new catalysts have been announced: HR 526(CoMo), HR 568(CoMo-Ni), HR 548(NiMo) and HRK 558 (hydrocracking pretreatment), covering applications from ULSD and cetane improvement, to VGO hydrocracking and FCC pre-treatment.