Revamps 2025 Issue

Conclusion Co-processing has several advantages, including providing the most expeditious path to markets and saving as much as two years of construction time. It is well-proven; existing assets are used; and capital expense savings can be 30% or more. Indeed, one major licensor (Topsoe) notes that some 50% of its licenses are for revamps. While co-processing via hydroprocessing represents a low-barrier entry into the production of renewable fuels, specifically renewable diesel and SAF, there are risks and challenges that have been segregated into five areas for consideration. Any co-processing project feasibility study should encompass these areas, and their range gives insight into the diversity of skill sets that would serve well for the make-up of a study team. The areas of most risk will likely be feedstock availability, corrosion issues, and, depending upon geographic area of focus, regulatory environment. References 1 Shiflett, W. Potential of renewable fuels and SAF. PTQ Q1 2025 . https://ptqmagazines.digitalrefining.com/view/414493173/71 2 Shiflett, W. Renewables Part 2: A focus on SAF. PTQ Catalysis 2025 . https://ptqmagazines.digitalrefining.com/view/403391005/35/ 3 Honeywell UOP. Honeywell UOP Co-Processing Technologies. December 2023. https://uop.honeywell.com/content/dam/uop/en-us/ documents/industry-solutions/renewable-fuels/Honeywell-UOP-Co- Processing-Technologies-web-brochure-final.pdf 4 Perez, M., Nygaard, G., and Verdier, S. SAF production via co-pro- cessing in the kerosene hydrotreater. PTQ Q2 2024 . https://ptqmaga- zines.digitalrefining.com/view/747650962/51/ 5 Seignon, M. LCFS & RIN Pricing Report Through April 11th, 2025, April 14, 2025. https://aegis-hedging.com/insights/ lcfs-rin-pricing-report-through-april-11th-2025#figure-3 6 Wang, M. Life Cycle Analysis of Biofuels with the R&D GREET Model. Presentation at the BBEST Conference. Oct 24, 2024. https://www.iea - bioenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PS14-2_Wang-ANL.pdf 7 Supply and Demand Report: Used Cooking Oil. Oil & Energy Online. April 18, 2025. https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/ supply-and-demand-report-used-cooking-oil/ 8 Kabir, W., Duchnowski, S., Sterpos, V., Cammarata, F., Karlsson, P., and Frampton D. Renewable Fuels: Seizing the Generational Opportunity. Bain & Company, Inc. brief. February 25, 2025. https://www.bain.com/ insights/renewable-fuels-seizing-the-generational-opportunity/# 9 Spica, C. Co-processing renewable feeds in hydrodesulphurisation units: Part 2. PTQ Q3 2024 . https://ptqmagazines.digitalrefining.com/ view/315448110/45/ 10 Verdier, S., Wiwel, P., Gabrielsen, J., Østergaard, L. Renewable feedstock analyses: Critical need for reproducibility improve - ments. Topsoe 2020 https://renewables.topsoe.com/articles/ access-to-industry-leading-renewables-knowhow# Woody Shiflett is the founder of Blue Ridge Consulting LLC, specialis - ing in chemical engineering catalysis, fuels and base oil process catal- ysis, and green chemistry, specifically dealing with hydroprocessing catalysis and process solutions. He has more than 40 years of expe - rience in fuels catalyst technologies. Shiflett holds a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MBA from Texas A&M University, and a BSChE from the University of Akron. Email: blueridgeconsulting2020@outlook.com

Generally approved analytical techniques for renewable feedstocks

Contaminant Fre e fatty acids M oisture content

Units wt%

Official methods AOCS Ca 5a-40 ISO 8534:2017 AOCS Ca 2e-84 AOCS Ca 3a-46 AOCS Ca 6a-40 AOCS Ca 17-01 ASTM 4951 AOCS Ca 17-01 ASTM 5185 ASTM D4629 ASTM D2622 ASTM D4294 ASTM D5453 EN 14077 ASTM D7359 AOCS Ca 16-75

ppm

Insoluble impurities

ppm wt% ppm

Unsaponifiable

P hosphorus

Me tals (total)

ppm

Nitrogen Sulphur

ppm ppm

Chlorine (total)

ppm

Po lyethylene

ppm

Table 3

■ Addition of stress during welding. ■ Welding is a relatively slow process. • Field-applied high velocity thermal spray: ■ Only developed in the early 2000s. ■ Faster than welding. ■ No additional metal stresses incurred. ■ References and track record need to be assessed. Analytical requirements The introduction of renewable feedstocks to a refinery hydro - processing unit brings about a need for certain new analyt- ical techniques and the verification that existing techniques are applicable. A key new requirement will be an approved means to measure product biogenic carbon content, spe- cifically carbon 14 analysis, which identifies the C1₄ isotope found only in living or recently living organic materials. Various approved methodologies accepted in the EU and US include ASTM D6866 and EN 16640. The former rec - ommends accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) or liquid scintillation counting (LCS), while the latter accepts AMS, LCS, or beta-ionisation. LCS is less expensive but needs a larger sample size, more time, and is less precise than AMS. A recent viewpoint makes the case for AMS being the pre- ferred option. Renewable feedstocks present analytical requirements that expand the scope of traditional fossil fuel refinery analytical capabilities. Several years ago, an informative review was made of the renewable analytical landscape,¹⁰ and some areas of concern were noted. Phosphorus anal- yses have presented challenges in particular. Table 3 summarises standardised analytical techniques in use for renewable feedstocks, although it is not presented as a comprehensive compilation. 1 , ² A refiner choosing to con - duct its co-processing analytical programme in-house might find it useful to periodically compare results with the number of outside laboratories doing such contract work.

Revamps 2025