Dow, a science and technology innovation company, and Davy Process Technology (DPT), a company specialized in petrochemicals technology development and licensing, have licensed the new LP Oxo technology based on Dow’s NORMAX catalyst to Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Yan’an Energy and Chemical (Yan’an Energy), an oil and gas exploration company in China.
LP Oxo is a low-pressure hydroformylation process, which is generally used with synthesis gas (a blend of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) and propylene to produce normal- and iso-butyraldehydes.
Yan’an Energy will use the technology to produce iso butanol, normal butanol and 2-propylheptanol within a single integrated manufacturing facility located in Shaanxi Province, China. The license will enable the Chinese oil company to construct a LP Oxo facility at Yanchang Petroluem Yan’an Coal-Gas-Oil Resources Integration Complex. The plant will implement the unique design based on the LP Oxo technology and will have a capacity to manufacture 7 kta iso butanol, 206 kta normal butanol and 80 kta 2-propylheptanol.
Antoine Bordet¸ DPT’s Managing Director, remarked that they are delighted about the Yan’an Energy’s selection of the LP Oxo technology for use in its combined 2-propylheptanol and butanols production facility. This will be the company’s 48th LP Oxo project and they wish to work with Yan’an Energy starting from process design to successful establishment, added Bordet. The Global Business Director of Dow’s Oxygenated Solvents, James Batt, stated that they expect the LP Oxo licensed plant in China will benefit from low feedstock and energy consumption and considerable savings in capex investment.