The German company Linde AG presented its propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technology at a seminar which was held on 20 December 2001 in Tehran.
Propane dehydrogenation technology has gained importance in recent years due to increase in consumption of propylene for the production of polypropylene. Polypropylene market has high growth potential, however; availability of polymer grade propylene is a major setback. Already, propylene is available largely from steam crackers and partly from refinery fluidized bed cracker units (FCCU). Most of steam crackers are designed to maximize ethylene yield while FCCU produces only about 4% to 6% propylene. Therefore, PDH technology is already seen as the best option available for petchem industry to source propylene. It uses propane available in large quantities in straight-run LPG stream of refineries.
Linde's seminar included topics such as an overview of PDH development history, first and second generations of PDH technologies, concept for a commercial PDH plant, economic considerations for a commercial PDH plant and comparison of PDH technology with competitive technologies.

On a visit to Bandar Imam Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (PETZONE) in mid December, Mr. Aldo Belloni, member of the executive board of Linde AG met with NPC President Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh and reviewed the latest status of NPC's 6th olefin project which is being implemented and will be operated by Amir kabir Petrochemical Co. Linde AG and its Iranian partner Energy, Industries Engineering and Design (EIED) are contractors for basic and detailed engineering as well as procurement of the project's 520 KT/Y ethylene cracker.
Later in the day, Mr. Belloni toured Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex and the NPC's projects which are under construction at PETZONE.


The German company Lurgi Oel.Gas.Chemie introduced its technologies to NPC in a seminar which was held at the NPC headquarters in Tehran. The seminar included a general introduction to Lurgi's new technology structure, its Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) history and concept, the status of Lurgi's GTL technologies, its strategy on R&D and commercialization.
The seminar also focused on methanol route, including Methanol-to-Dimethylether (DME), Methanol-to-Propylene (MTP), Methanol-to-Hydrogen (MTH), Methanol-to-Power (MTPower) and Conversion of Olefins to Diesel (COD).
One section was devoted to Fischer Tropsch route highlighting on status of Lurgi's technology expertise including, synthesis gas generation, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (reactor design, catalyst) and downstream product processing (hydrocracking). The seminar was concluded with a discussion on Lurgi's acrylic acid technology.


Representatives from NPC took part at the following international events:

South Asia & Sub-Sahara Africa PET Market 2001, 21-22 November 2001,India

Sustainable Research Workshop, 5-8 November 2001, Bahrain

4Th Asia/China Olefins & Polyolefins Markets, 19-20 November 2001,China