Topsoe’s TK catalysts
Topsoe’s TK catalysts remove sulphur, nitrogen, metal and aromatics from crude oil, thus producing ultra low sulphur diesel and petrol.
Where are TK catalysts used?
Topsoe’s TK catalysts are used in about 350 refineries around the world.
TK catalysts and the environment
Most of the diesel and petrol used is produced from crude oil. Previously the oil industry used the clean and light oil – also called “sweet crude”. As oil reserves decrease it has become necessary to use the heavy and dirty crude oil – also known as “bottom of the barrel” – which has a high content of, for instance, sulphur.
Sulphur removal
Sulphur causes sour rain, which is harmful to water and forests. By removing the sulphur from the oil, the emission of sulphur oxides when the fuel is burned in the engine is prevented. The TK catalyst removes 99, 9% of the sulphur from crude oil.
With Topsoe’s TK catalyst the world gets access to extra resources, which can be utilised in an environmentally friendly and energy efficient way. Topsoe is leading supplier of catalysts for the production of diesel and petrol with ultra low sulphur content.
CASE: PetroPiar refinery
Topsoe has supplied TK catalysts to PetroPiar refinery in Venezuela. The catalysts remove 7,2 tonnes of sulphur every hour and thereby reducing 14,4 tonnes of SO2 emission every hour.
The sulphur is retrieved and reused or sold as sulphuric acid or pure sulphur.
On a yearly basis Topsoe’s TK catalyst removes two million tonnes of sulphur from crude oil, corresponding to a potential of four million tonnes of SO2 emission from vehicles.