【Ten Years of Great Progress in Chemical Technology】Breakthroughs achieved in ultra-deep desulfurization and refining technologies for light hydrocarbons from 2012 to 2023

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Ten years of rapid development in chemical technology – praise for China’s prosperity and strength. This is just a starting point; more participation from everyone will make things even more lively. Haichuan becomes even better with your involvement; we welcome everyone to take an active part in the forum discussions. The fragrance of rice flowers in August ------------------------------------------- It has been reported that the ultra-deep refining catalytic technology for light oils, developed independently by CNOOC Tianjin Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as CNOOC Tianjin Institute), has been successfully applied in the 4 million tons per year wax oil high-pressure hydrocracking unit at CNOOC Huizhou Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Huizhou Petrochemical). This technology has been operating stably for over 2 months now, marking a new breakthrough in the ultra-deep desulfurization refining of light oils. The wax oil high-pressure hydrocracking unit is an important device in refineries for lightening distillates; the heavy naphtha produced serves as a feedstock for reforming to produce aromatics. Reformate feed oil contains a small amount of organic sulfur and trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide, which not only corrode equipment pipes but also cause catalyst poisoning or even deactivation. In 2022, building on the Huizhou Oil Refining and Chemicals Joint Innovation Laboratory platform established through the collaboration between CNOOC Development Tianjin Institute and Huizhou Petrochemical, Huizhou Petrochemical proposed that the two parties work together to develop a technology for refining heavy naphtha using high-pressure hydrocracking units, in order to reduce the organic sulfur content in heavy naphtha to below 0.1 ppm. The research team from CNOOC Development Tianjin Institute responded promptly and worked closely with relevant technical personnel from Huizhou Petrochemical to thoroughly study the special properties of the crude oil as well as the process parameters, and conducted in-depth research on the reaction mechanisms and material synthesis processes. Building on the previous research foundations in nanoscale nickel-based composite metal catalytic materials, and by combining proprietary shaping and reduction passivation process technologies, they developed a series of technical solutions for the preparation and loading of THS309, an ultra-deep desulfurization agent for light oils. In addition, CNOOC Development Tianjin Institute completed the process technology optimization, production, and supply of desulfurization agents. On May 20, 2023, the THS309 ultra-deep desulfurization catalyst for light oils was successfully put into use in a 4 million tons per year wax oil high-pressure hydrocracking unit; within a short time, the sulfur content of the product dropped below 0.1 ppm, fully meeting the requirements for feedstock used in reforming processes. This refining agent can not only remove inorganic sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide from the raw material, but also effectively eliminate organic sulfur compounds such as thiolates and thioethers; it also possesses good capabilities for removing arsenic and chlorine. Furthermore, this refined product does not produce water during the reaction process; it features high activity, strong stability, and a long service life. This allows for reduced frequency of catalyst replacement, thereby supporting the industrial development strategy aimed at cost reduction and improved efficiency. Fang You, the chief engineer at Huizhou Petrochemical, and Zheng Gangxi, the supervisor of Unit 106 in the Operations Department 2, both said that CNOOC Development Tianjin Institute’s ultra-deep desulfurization and refining technology has overcome the production challenges associated with long startup times and excessive levels of mercaptans and sulfur. It has also resolved the issue of high sulfur and nitrogen content in the products resulting from hydrocracking optimization projects, providing a technical foundation for ensuring that these parameters meet the required standards in later stages. ” “The successful deployment of the THS309 light oil ultra-deep desulfurization agent, which possesses independent intellectual property rights developed by CNOOC Development Tianjin Institute, in Huizhou Petrochemical’s heavy naphtha desulfurization unit has further expanded the range of crude oils that can be processed at this facility. This has helped to broaden China’s supply of chemical raw materials and contributed to the reduction of oil consumption and an increase in chemical production. ”Zhu Jinjian, a responsible official from CNOOC Development Tianjin Institute, said that in the next step, the institute will continue to improve its own hydrogenation catalyst technology framework to contribute to the goal of providing a clean, reliable, and stable energy supply. At the same time, it will work to ensure greater autonomy and control over key core technologies, thereby supporting the advancement of integrated refining and chemical processing in China.