Clariant has secured a major contract from Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd. (ZPC) to supply its CATOFIN catalyst and Heat Generating Material (HGM) for a new propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit in Zhejiang Province, China.

 

With a nameplate capacity of 1.2 million metric tons per annum, the facility will be the world’s largest licensed PDH unit, marking a significant milestone for Clariant’s catalyst technology and the global propylene market.

 

"The award of the largest PDH unit is a defining moment. ZPC’s decision to select CATOFIN for this flagship investment is a strong reflection of the performance and reliability our catalyst technology has demonstrated across the industry,” said Jace Wang, Vice President and Head of Propylene, Business Unit Catalysts, Clariant.

 

The project underscores the growing scale of PDH investments as producers move to meet rising demand for propylene and its high-value derivatives. The technology combines Lummus’ process expertise with Clariant’s catalyst technology, providing operators with a single integrated solution designed to deliver high propylene output, strong performance and competitive costs.

 

Propylene from the new unit will be used to produce high-value petrochemical derivatives. The project will also benefit from additional propane feedstock expected to become available through ZPC’s ongoing upstream refinery expansions.

 

“ZPC’s decision to entrust Lummus with the largest PDH unit ever built speaks to the proven performance of CATOFIN technology and the depth of our partnership,” said Romain Lemoine, Chief Business Officer, Lummus Technology. “As customers pursue increasingly large-scale projects to meet growing propylene demand, CATOFIN's track record of meeting or exceeding design capacity demonstrates its technical reliability and reinforces its strong position as a trusted solution for PDH operators worldwide.”

 

Clariant said CATOFIN has delivered more than 60 years of continuously improved performance, with high reliability and selectivity supporting consistent production output.