Topsoe has concluded a license and engineering contract with Lukoil Neftochim Bourgas AD (LNB) of Bourgas, Bulgaria, for a spent sulphuric acid regeneration plant for LNB's alkylation facilities. The spent acid regeneration plant is planned to begin operations in 2007. It will be based on Topsoe's proprietary Wetgas Sulphuric Acid (WSA) technology and in addition to the spent acid will handle concentrated H2S gas. The plant will produce a total of 87 MTPD of sulphuric acid.

Topsoe currently has four WSA plants in operation for spent alkylation acid regeneration and two more are due to start up in 2005. For other applications in the oil refining industry trea­ting H2S off-gases, Topsoe has a further seven WSA plants in operation, one of which was started up in 1999 for Lukoil in Perm, Russia. The world-wide reference list of Topsoe WSA plants (all applications) now totals 49 plants.

For further information, please contact Mr. Frands E. Jensen on fej@topsoe.dk.