McDermott International, Inc. has been awarded a sizeable technology contract by Advanced Global Investment Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advanced Petrochermical Co. (APC). McDermott’s Lummus Technology will provide the license and basic engineering package of a C3 Catofin unit at its new grassroots petrochemical complex in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The unit will have a propylene production capacity of 843,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr).

The C Catofin process operates at optimized reactor pressure and temperature to maximize propylene yield. This plant will utilize Clariant’s latest generation Catofin catalyst system, including the company’s patented metal-oxide Heat Generating Material (HGM) to deliver maximized selectivity at high conversion rates and long run lengths.

“The Catofin technology that Lummus licenses worldwide, alongside our partner Clariant, provides a highly reliable, lower-cost route to propylene, with a lower carbon footprint. APC’s decision to proceed with CATOFIN technology for their second unit is a testament to the successful operation of their propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit and consistent performance as a top quartile PDH complex,” said Leon de Bruyn, Senior Vice President, Lummus Technology.

Stefan Heuser, senior vice president and general manager at Clariant Catalysts, commented, “We are honored to have gained our customers’ trust over the past several years, now leading to a third award. A facility of such dimensions requires not only technology with the highest performance, but also the most capable suppliers. We look forward to delivering maximum value to our customer together with Lummus Technology, our valued process and technology partner.”

Catofin technology is a highly reliable and productive method for light paraffin dehydrogenation, Clariant says. The process operates at thermodynamically-advantaged reactor pressure and temperature to maximize conversion of propane to propylene, while reducing investment and operating costs. Thanks to its extraordinarily high reliability and productivity, Catofin delivers excellent production output annually compared to alternative technologies, the company adds.

This is APC’s second Catofin unit in their portfolio, having previously licensed the technology for their first unit in 2003—also in Jubail, KSA.