A New Era in on-Purpose Butadiene (OPBD) Technology

Butadiene is produced almost entirely as a byproduct of ethylene plants. As ethylene plants switch from naphtha feedstock to cheaper ethane, the amount of butadiene byproduct decreases. A supply shortage is anticipated. On-Purpose Butadiene will be needed to meet the demand. One way to make On-Purpose Butadiene is Oxidative Dehydrogenation of butenes, TPC Group’s proprietary OXO-D technology. TPC and UOP have worked together to make further enhancements to the TPC technology. The improvements, including advances in process safety, increased yields and improved energy efficiency, are reviewed and the new technology compared with alternate routes for On-Purpose Butadiene.