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LARTC 2025 Honeywell technology helps Petrobras make major gains toward biodiesel gas production

Rene Gonzalez Editor, PTQ

the right place,” according to Keith Couch, Senior Director of Business Development for Honeywell UOP. Expanding on these efforts by Petrobras and other oil compa- nies throughout the world, Couch noted in previous refining industry symposiums that the speed of change in technology inno- vation is immense within refining industry cost structures. Honeywell UOP’s Separex membrane system In other expanding areas, Petrobras’ off- shore natural gas processing is facilitated by Honeywell UOP’s Separex  membrane systems, which remain in use for CO₂ and water removal in natural gas streams from Petrobras’ Lula field floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) projects, continuing a long-term technology col- laboration. For more than a decade, these installations have supported ongoing oper- ations and offshore gas processing in the Santos Basin. Each Separex membrane system, designed for a compact footprint, removes CO₂ and water from as much as 6 million standard cubic metres (SCMs) of natural gas per day. These contaminants must be removed to meet quality standards speci- fied by pipeline transmission and distribu- tion companies, as well as natural gas end users. They are the thinnest membranes in the industry, yet have the longest mem- brane life in natural gas service. Separex membranes eliminate the need for solvents, which could spill and damage marine ecosystems. A significant portion of the membrane systems was fabricated in Brazil. Honeywell UOP’s technology has demonstrated the ability to operate with very high on-stream factors for difficult-to- treat gas streams in remote locations. These systems can be used onshore or offshore, at the wellhead or at gathering facilities.

Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil com- pany, previously licensed Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining ® for producing renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Presidente Bernardes Refinery in Cubatão in the state of São Paulo. This is Petrobras’ first hydro-processed esters and fatty acid (HEFA) unit dedicated to the production of 100% bio-based diesel fuels. The HEFA unit is unique in the company’s refining park, with a capacity to process 713,265 gallons per day (approximately 240 million gallons per year), or 15,000 bpd of SAF and renew- able diesel. According to Petrobras, the feedstock mix is 70%. Petrobras’ biorefining programme According to previous press releases, Petrobras’ biorefining programme foresees investments of $1.5 billion to develop more modern and sustainable fuels, in addition to the expansion of co-processing mineral die- sel with vegetable oil. All of this is part of the company’s strategic plan for investments of $11.5 billion, focused on the energy transi- tion and targeted at low-carbon initiatives. Previously, William França, Petrobras’ Director of Industrial Processes and Products, was quoted as saying, “We have already adapted some of our refineries with co-processing units capable of producing ‘Diesel R5,’ made up of mineral diesel with 5% vegetable oil (often derived from hydro- treated vegetable oil [HVO]).” “Within this biorefining strategy, the pro- ject at the Presidente Bernardes Refinery is the first aimed at producing 100% renewable aviation biokerosene and diesel,” said Cesar Cunha, Petrobras’ Executive Manager of Surface Systems, Refining, Gas, and Energy. Diesel R5, part of Brazil’s National Biofuels Policy (RenovaBio), is distinct from B5, which refers to a 5% blend of biodiesel (FAME) with mineral diesel. The HVO renew- able component is chemically similar to

Petrobras licenses Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining technology for renewable diesel and SAF production at its Presidente Bernardes Refinery ( Credit: Petrobras)

Moving forward with these low-carbon ini- tiatives expressed by refiners, Honeywell UOP emphasises the importance of price,

mineral diesel, offering better combustion properties and storage stability than FAME. It is not the same as biodiesel blends (B2, B10, etc.) and is compatible with conven- tional diesel engines without modification, and can lower particulate and CO₂ emis- sions compared to regular diesel. B2 biodiesel blend (2% biodiesel and 98% fossil diesel), first introduced in Brazil in the mid-2000s as a mandatory mini- mum blend, is primarily aimed at reducing emissions and promoting renewable fuels. It is suitable for all diesel engines without modification. B10 biodiesel blend (10% biodiesel and 90% fossil diesel) became mandatory in Brazil in March 2023 (it was previously B13 but was reduced temporar- ily due to market and technical concerns). Higher blend concentrations contrib- ute more significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and energy diversifica- tion, but may raise concerns over cold- weather performance, engine compatibility in older vehicles, and oxidation stability.

did you know? Honeywell UOP’s technology has the ability to operate with very high on-stream factors for difficult-to- treat gas streams in remote locations

affordability, security, and sustainabil- ity when “putting the right molecules in

Contact: uop.honeywell.com

Publisher of PTQ/Digital Refining/ Decarbonisation Technology

PUBLISHED BY

PTQ is the leading industry magazine

Managing Editor Rachel Storry rachel.storry@emap.com Editorial Assistant Lisa Harrison lisa.harrison@emap.com

Business Development Director Paul Mason tel: +44 7841 699431 sales@petroleumtechnology.com

covering developments in the refining, gas and petrochemical processing industries. Register online.

Business Development Luke Massingham

Managing Director Richard Watts

Graphics Peter Harper