Propylene

Abstract

1 Provided by Talieh Rajabloo talieh.rajabloo@uhasselt.be Propylene HIGHLIGHTS Processes and technology status-Propylene is mainly a byproduct of two processes the steam cracking and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). Due to high and increasing demand of propylene, the mentioned byproducts are not enough for the market and on purpose production technologies are developed as well such as propane dehydrogenation (PDH). Other main on purpose processes for propylene production are methanol to olefin (MTO), methanol to propylene (MTP) metathesis and Superflex technology. Moreover, bio-and CO 2-routs are green technologies for propylene production which are under development. Cost-Various production routes impose different costs. Furthermore, feedstock costs play an important role on the propylene production specially in the case of PDH technology. Further details are available in this fact sheet for the main propylene production routes. For instant, price of PDH route is equal to 596.35 € 2007 /ton 1 of propylene 1. Potential and barriers-Opportunities in front of propylene production are increase in propylene production and development of new feedstock resources such as shale gas in Europe. Weaknesses of propylene production plants are high feedstock and energy costs, high labor costs, high environmental and legislative cost. Moreover, threats ahead are imports of petrochemical derivatives, declining petrochemical production, closure of refineries and steam crackers.