UOP LAB Complex Data Sheet

UOP Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) Complex
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Introduction
Linear alkylbenzene (LAB) is the most common raw
material in the manufacture of biodegradable household
detergents. LAB is produced using normal paraffins as a
raw material. Normal paraffins are derived from straight
run kerosene.
UOP offers processes, catalysts, adsorbents and equip-
ment for the production of LAB from kerosene or normal
paraffins. The processes can be utilized in combination
in a new complex or retrofitted or revamped into existing
complexes. The UOP LAB complex consists of a
combination of several UOP processes, including the
kerosene prefractionation, distillate Unionfining
TM
process,
Molex
TM
process, Pacol
TM
process, DeFine
TM
process,
PEP
TM
process, Detergent Alkylate process, and Detal
TM
process. The LAB technology is the most economical
technology available today, and more than 70% of the
worlds LAB is produced using UOP technologies.
Until 1995, alkylation used hydrofluoric (HF) acid as the
catalyst. In 1995, the first commercial Detal process unit
using a solid bed catalyst alkylation process was com-
missioned. This revolutionary technology abolished the
use of liquid acid in the plant, reducing capital invest-
ments, maintenance costs, and waste treatment.
Applications
The continued demand for LAB worldwide creates new
growth and development of new technologies to
improve the processes. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate
(LAS), is the most cost-effective surfactant available for
use in detergent formulations. Environmentally proven
LAS has the largest volume among existing surfactants.
Description
There are two major sections in a LAB complex:
production of normal paraffins, and production of LAB
from normal paraffins.
Production of normal paraffins:
Kerosene prefractionation is often used to tailor
the kerosene feed to the desired carbon range.
Kerosene is stripped of light ends and heavier
components so that the heart cut, containing the
desired n-paraffins for the production of LAB of a
certain range of molecular weight, is produced.
The distillate Unionfining
TM
process hydrotreats
kerosene at sufficient severity to remove sulfur,
nitrogen, olefins and oxygenate compounds which
might otherwise poison the Molex adsorbent.
The Molex process is a liquid state separation of
normal paraffins from branched and cyclic
components using Sorbex
TM
technology. The simu-
lated moving bed adsorptive separation results from
using a proprietary multi-port rotary valve. The
extract stream is a high-purity normal paraffins
stream. The raffinate stream, consisting mainly of
iso- or cyclic-kerosene range compounds, is often
blended into jet fuel.
Production of LAB from normal paraffins:
In the Pacol process, the normal paraffins are
dehydrogenated in a vapor phase reaction to
corresponding mono-olefins over a highly selective
and active catalyst.
The DeFine process is a liquid phase, selective
hydrogenation of diolefins in the Pacol reactor
effluent to corresponding mono-olefins over a
catalyst bed.
The PEP process allows the selective removal of
aromatics in the feed to the Detal or Detergent
Alkylate unit.
Detergent Alkylate is a process in which benzene is
alkylated with mono-olefins produced in the Pacol
unit to LAB using HF acid as a catalyst.
UOP Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) Complex 2
The Detal process, jointly
developed by CEPSA and
UOP, is a solid catalyst,
fixed-bed process in which
benzene is alkylated with
mono-olefins produced in
the Pacol unit.
Feedstocks
Kerosene for the Unionfining
process can be full boiling range,
straight run kerosene, or a
narrow cut for the production of
LAB, usually C
10
to C
13
, C
11
to
C
14
, or C
10
to C
14
n-paraffins.
Molex feed can be hydrotreated
kerosene containing up to C
20
paraffin components.
UOPs Molex unit can be designed to recover paraffins
heavier than those used in LAB production. The Pacol
feed is limited to four carbon numbers of n-paraffin due
to fractionation limitations, typically either C
10
to C
13
paraffin or C
11
to C
14
normal paraffin produced directly
from an upstream Molex unit or purchased as a raw
material.
Experience
UOP began offering alkylbenzene technology in the
1940s and continues to be the primary supplier of LAB
technology to producers worldwide. Virtually all of the
new LAB capacity in the past 15 years employs UOP
technologies. Continued research and development
improves upon the processes in the LAB complex, as
well as the catalysts and adsorbents.
For more information
For more information, contact your local UOP
representative or our Des Plaines sales office:
e-mail: info@uop.com
fax: +1-847-391-2253
phone: +1-847-391-2000
2007 UOP LLC. All rights reserved.
The information in this document should not be construed as a representation for
which UOP assumes legal responsibility, or an authorization or recommendation
to practice a patented invention without a license.
UOP 4522-21 0607PTE0Ap
UOP LLC
25 East Algonquin Road
Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017
U.S.A.
www.uop.com
Purification
Prefractionation
Hydrotreating
Pacol
DeFine
PEP
Detal or
Detergent
Alkylate
Kerosene
Hydrogen
Light
Ends
Aromatics
Benzene
Raffinate
Return to
Refinery
Recycle Paraffin
Heavy
Alkylate
LAB
Integrated LAB Complex

UOP LAB Complex Data Sheet

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UOP Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) Complex

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