Naphtha Treatment

Naphtha Treatment is an essential step to prepare feeds for the catalytic units producing upgraded and cleaner gasoline. Different feedstocks can be treated such as: straight run, condensate and more refractory ones such as cracked naphtha (coker, Vacuum Bottom, cracked catalytic naphtha).

On another hand, mercury in condensates, crudes and liquid hydrocarbons can be found under metallic (also called elemental mercury Hg°), ionic, organo-metallic or particles form. It is a contaminant that needs to be removed. For example, in LNG and ethylene plants, severe corrosion failures in aluminum exchangers have been traced to mercury.

RAM™

RAM™ processes are proposed for the many large gas and oil reservoirs containing concentrations of arsenic and mercury as low as ppb (parts per billion - 109), as well as contaminants introduced via transport and storage operations that can damage equipment, poison catalysts and generate environmental problems.

The RAM™ processes provide the ultimate solution, transforming the condensate's value from negative to positive. Considering that most of the production cost is in the feedstock alone and that adding a simple process has minimum impact on the overall investment schedule, the financial leverage afforded by this process is considerable.

Depending on the types of contaminants present in the feed, the different options of the RAM™ process are as follow:

RAM™ II – One step
RAM™ II – Two steps
RAM™ III

16 RAM™ units have been licensed worldwide

Excellent industrial results

Outstanding return on investment

Naphtha Hydrotreating

The Naphtha Hydrotreating process is important to pretreat naphtha for downstream units, like paraffin isomerization and catalytic reforming, where severe specifications are required and catalysts used are very sensitive to impurities. The objective is to reduce sulfur and nitrogen contents (less than 0.5 weight ppm), but also olefins (less than 0.1 weight percent).

Over 200 licenses extensive experience in hydrotreatment of straight run and cracked naphthas.

Optimized operating conditions and energy consumption

Choice of specific catalysts to ensure meeting the products specifications

Related Offer

Modular Unit Catalyst Protection System

Catalysts

Middle Distillates & Naphtha Hydrotreating Catalysts

Axens’ portfolio has a complete, high performance range of hydrotreating catalysts allowing for increasingly more difficult feedstock to be processed without cycle penalty.

Gradings

Arsenic Management

Arsenic is by far the most severe poison for Catalysts. Arsenic maximum allowable content on hydroprocessing catalysts during operation, depending upon the service, is in the range of hundreds of wppm.

Gradings

Gums & Polymer formation control

Pressure drop induced by gum formation is frequently encountered in unit processing some cracked feedstock derived from various conversion processes. The olefins and mainly the diolefins contained in these streams tend to polymerize and get oxidized forming a crust which deposit in the upper layers of the reactor.

Gradings

Silica Management

Silicon is a well-known widespread poison for hydroprocessing catalysts. The main contributor to silicon is the Delayed Coker. In addition, there is a general tendency in the oil production industry to use more silicon-based flow improvers.

Gradings

Speciality Bed Topping

In Hydroprocessing reactors, pressure drop is mainly induced by particulates build-up and gum formations. Pressure drop not only affect the capacity of the unit but can also have detrimental impact on the distribution.

Adsorbents

Chloride Removal Adsorbents

Chloride is important in both catalytic reforming and isomerization as it helps to maintain catalytic activity over time. However, as chloride is continuously fed into these units, it also has to exit.

Adsorbents

Drying Series Adsorbents

Water removal applications are widely encountered in the industry sector. Activated alumina and molecular sieves stand at the forefront of the several different materials available on the market.

Adsorbents

Mercury Removal Adsorbents

Mercury removal from hydrocarbons is crucial due to HSE-related issues, corrosion problems and downstream catalyst poisoning.

Adsorbents

Sulfur Removal Adsorbents for Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), COS, mercaptans or sulfides are common contaminants that must be removed from various gases and liquids such as natural gas, NGLs, LPGs, cracked gases, olefins or biogas.

Furnaces

Furnace(s) is a key equipment considering the need for optimal operation of unit. Thanks to an extensive design experience with feedbacks from operators and a complete knowledge of this process, Heurtey Petrochem Solutions provides an unparalleled service such as these following features:

High fuel efficiency (94%+) depending on fuel S level
Fully Modularized
Lowest Emission (95%+ reduction with emission reduction technology)
Optimized Plot Plan

Find out more

Consulting

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

Modular Units

A modularization strategy offers superior benefits versus on-site manufacturing. During the last 40 years, Axens has supplied over 500 modular units, both onshore and offshore, providing tailor-made designs according to client project specifications.

Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Environmental Systems & Services

Energy efficiency awareness can lead to tremendous economic and environmental benefits. Expert studies show that there is still vast untapped energy efficiency potential of up to 25% of heavy industry in Europe alone.

Digital Applications

Innovative approach leveraging digital solutions leading to improved asset operation and performance.

Reactor Internals

In today’s complex environment, refineries and petrochemical plants around the world need advanced solutions to reach operational excellence. In units featuring fixed-bed reactors, the use of high-efficiency reactor internals are essential to help achieve this goal.

Resources you might be interested in

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Renewable Fuels & Bio-Based Chemicals

Case Study - Producing Renewable Liquid Products From Different Lipid Feedstocks Through a Revamp

Natural Gas

Case Study - Successful start-up of a Sub-dewpointing Sulfur Removal Technology

White Paper - Carbon Capture & Storage

Press release 14 November 2013

Grupa LOTOS S.A. Selects Axens’ technology for its Coker Naphtha Hydrotreating Unit

Technical article 16 January 2024

Technical Article - Transforming a refinery unit into a key component of end-of-life plastic circularity

Technical article 27 April 2021

Technical Article - Achieve Success In Gasoline Hydrotreating

FAQ

What type of catalyst do we need for low pressure hydrotreating of middle distillates?

Press release 14 November 2013

Grupa LOTOS S.A. Selects Axens’ technology for its Coker Naphtha Hydrotreating Unit

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