Sinopec chooses Topsoe CATOX catalyst for Asia’s largest styrene-butadiene rubber emissions control project

• Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical Corporation has chosen Topsoe’s CATOX catalyst for cost-efficient control of volatile organic compounds (VOC) at their rubber plant in Zibo, China.
  
  
• The facility has two lines with a total capacity of 240,000 Nm³/h, which makes it the largest current styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) emissions control project in Asia.
  
  
• Sinopec Qilu focused on guaranteed emission compliance, short delivery time, and low investment costs.
  
  

Haldor Topsoe has delivered the catalyst charge for a new regenerative catalytic oxidizer at the Sinopec Qilu styrene-butadiene rubber plant in Zibo – the biggest rubber producer in China and part of Sinopec Group, the world’s largest oil refining, gas & petrochemical conglomerate.

“The catalyst performance has been excellent since start up. We have been very happy with the fast catalyst delivery from Topsoe,” says Mr. Li, Vice Plant Director of Sinopec Qilu Rubber.

The catalyst has been optimized to meet Sinopec Qilu’s requirements for performance, total investment cost, and pressure drop. Topsoe R&D delivered advanced performance measurements that enabled design for the optimal platinum load in order to meet the required emission limits. This has led to a very competitive product at the lowest possible cost. The tailor-made catalyst was delivered to Sinopec Qilu in less than three months.

The CATOX catalyst is a platinum monolith that oxidizes hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOC) into harmless CO₂ and H₂O at very low temperatures, saving energy and investment costs. The CATOX catalyst is suited for a number of industries in addition to SBR, including purified terephthalic acid (PTA), formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, and CO₂ purification.

Topsoe provides cutting-edge complete VOC removal solutions or individual deliveries according to customer requirements. The solutions do not generate secondary pollution and can reduce or even eliminate the use of auxiliary fuels. Topsoe has done research and development of VOC removal processes and catalysts since the late 1970s.