Topsoe is leading the way with respect to diesel selective in hydrocracking and was selected for the following catalyst reload orders for hydrocracking during the first half of 2006. So far, Topsoe has supplied 16 successful catalyst charges of hydrocracking catalysts in the last 5 years.

REPSOL-YPF Tarragona Refinery, Spain recently selected Topsoe’s hydrocracking catalyst for their 32,000 BPSD high pressure hydrocracking unit. The main objective of this hydrocracker is to maximise production of middle distillates and improve the quality of unconverted oil (UCO).

MOL Danube Refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary will fully reload their 40,000 BPSD mild hydrocracking unit in August 2006. The main goal of this MHC is to maximise production of middle distillate and improve the quality of the fractionator bottoms, which is processed in their FCC.

Petrolera Ameriven has also selected to reload their 55,000 BPD high pressure hydrocracker located in Jose, Venezuela with Topsoe’s catalysts. This hydrocracker was initially started up in October 2004 and changed to Topsøe high performance catalysts to improve throughput and performance in July 2006. The objective of the catalysts is to maximise the quality and yields of the total liquid products.

Saras S.p.A. also successfully fully reloaded their 55,000 BSPD hydrocracker with Topsoe’s hydrocracking catalysts in Italy in April 2006, after three very successful cycles with high performance Topsoe catalysts.

A few months ago, SRC Pte Ltd (Singapore) and Slovnaft (Slovakia) loaded the first and partially the second reactors of their high pressure hydrocrackers with Topsoe’s hydrocracking and pretreating hydrocracking catalysts.

All catalysts are developed and manufactured by Haldor Topsoe A/S. Topsoe’s research and development work in catalyst acid chemistry resulted in the preparation of these high performance catalysts, where mid-distillates yields are significantly higher than observed with other hydrocracking catalysts. These new generation catalysts are quickly gaining acceptance by refiners worldwide.

For further information please contact Arturo Bettati on tel: +45 45 27 85 44 or email: arb@topsoe.dk.