Catalysis 2023 Issue

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Figure 6 Global phosphorous levels

pandemic, demand for gasoline dropped while propylene remained high. Refiners used olefins additives to produce olefins, particularly propylene, at lower activity. LPG olefins trends Economics across the globe are driving an increase in LPG olefins production, and a decrease in low-value LPG satu - rates such as propane and normal butane. As expected from the Ecat phosphorous and Z/M trends, LPG olefins yields have increased significantly, as shown in Figure 7 . Regional differences are still seen in these yields, with EMEA and Asia trending higher than the Americas due to higher degrees of petrochemical integration. Another interesting feature is the variability of the data, which has widened over time. The units in the bottom 10th percentile have not increased their olefins selectivity much (likely due

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Figure 5 Global hydrogen yield and coke factor trends

Olefins additives Ecat phosphorous, shown in Figure 6 , is a marker for ole- fins additive, which converts gasoline range olefins into LPG (especially the olefinic products) and boosts gasoline octane. In the years since the last update, olefins additive levels increased significantly, especially in Asia with the highest curve/slope in this graph (Asia’s current level of phosphorous correlates to 5-9 wt% olefins additive in the unit). Despite the drastically different usage levels of additives in all three regions, every region experienced a significant increase. Economics across the globe are driving an increase in LPG olefins production, and a decrease in low-value LPG saturates such as propane and normal butane The higher increases in Asia and EMEA (particularly in the Middle East) are due to a higher degree of integration between refineries and petrochemical plants. Though at a lower starting level, the Americas also saw an increase over the past three years after 10 years of almost stagnant levels. The increase shows how refineries with spare LPG processing capacities (and units that have debottlenecked their LPG systems) are prioritising propylene (whose main outlet is polypropylene production) and butylenes (which goes to make high octane alkylate) over gasoline. As mentioned previously in the activity review, during the

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Figure 7 Global LPG olefins yield trends; total LPG olefins (top) and propylene-to-butylenes ratio (bottom)

Catalysis 2023