Lukoil to use UOP process for Kstovo refinery expansion

Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez, a subsidiary of Russian oil/gas firm Lukoil will use a range of Honeywell UOP process technologies at its Kstovo refinery to produce cleaner-burning high-octane fuels that comply with Euro-V and Class 5 standards in Russia.

UOP will provide technology licensing, design services, key equipment and catalysts and adsorbents for the project at the refinery in the Nizhny-Novgorod region in central Russia. When completed, the production capacity of the unit will exceed 215,000 tonnes/year of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a high-octane gasoline additive that reduces emissions in automobile exhaust.

The project includes the installation of a new UOP Ethermax unit that converts isobutylene and methanol into a high-octane MTBE blending agent that contains no benzene or aromatics. Earlier in 2020, UOP completed the revamp design for two existing Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) units and Merox unit to increase production of propylene at the refinery while maintaining high yield of gasoline production.

“These technologies will allow Lukoil to increase production of additives for cleaner-burning gasoline and meet Euro-V emission standards,” said Bryan Glover, Vice President/General Manager, UOP Process Technologies. “Lukoil elected to integrate the Ethermax technology into its existing FCC complex to reduce operating and capital costs, and begin operations more quickly.”

Read: Lukoil builds catalytic cracking complex at the Perm refinery; to open in 2026

The Ethermax technology delivers a high MTBE yield and is extensively used worldwide. MTBE is produced from a chemical reaction between methanol, and isobutylene,. Due to its high octane number, MTBE is an effective anti-knocking fuel additive to produce cleaner-burning gasoline.

The project also includes revamping existing Selective Hydrogenation (SHP) units and process revamp study of hydrofluoric alkylation units to maximize the production of alkylate, which produces cleaner-burning fuels.

The Euro V standard limits sulfur content to less than 10 parts per million in transportation fuels and restricts emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and particulate matter from gasoline and diesel vehicles and will improve overall refinery emissions.