Dow Texas Operations will use a platinum catalyst regeneration technology developed by Honeywell company UOP LLC to convert shale gas-derived propane to propylene at a new site in Texas.

Known as Oleflex technology, the process provides the lowest cost of production and highest return on investment compared to alternative dehydrogenation processes and is suited to the facility's anticipated production output.

The unit is scheduled to start up in 2015 and will be the largest single-train propane plant in the whole of North America, producing 750,000 metric tons per year of polymer-grade propylene that can be used in the production of packaging, adhesives, coatings, cleaners and other end-use applications.

Low operating and capital costs, high scalability and operating flexibility all contribute to the efficacy of the UOP CCR platinum catalyst process over alternatives.

Dow executive vice president of feedstocks and energy and corporate development Jim Fitterling explained: "Dow remains committed to our transformational strategy, and we continue to invest aggressively to strengthen the competitiveness of our Performance Plastics, Performance Materials and Advanced Materials businesses."

He described the agreement with Honeywell's UOP as a "significant milestone" in plans to connect cost-advantaged ethane and propane feedstocks in the US.

Sources:

Honeywell's UOP Selected by Dow Chemical to Provide Technology for U.S. Petrochemical Facility (05/01/12)

© Adfero Ltd