Catalytic Distillation
Catalytic distillation drives superior process efficiency by combining reaction and fractionation into a single unit operation. An important part of the Clean Fuels portfolio, this category offers advanced solutions for ethers, (CDMtbe, CDEtbe, CDTame, CDTaee, CDDME), hydrogenation (CD Hydro), and desulfurization (CDHDS/CDHDS+). These technologies help refiners optimize production while minimizing energy consumption and plot space
Ethers
Ethers are versatile organic compounds used as clean fuel blending components in numerous industries. Our etherification technology portfolio, including CDMtbe, CDEtbe, CDTame and CDTaee, holds an industry leading position with over 140 references. These technologies produce ethers and bioethers gasoline blend stock through catalytic distillation (CD), combining equipment for reduced investment and operating costs.
Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)
Superior selectivity for high-purity butene-1 or isobutylene
Our patented CDMtbe catalytic distillation technology processes C4 streams from refinery units to produce MTBE. MTBE (C₅H₁₂O) is formed by the catalytic etherification of isobutylene with methanol, a more cost-effective option than the ethanol used in ETBE. The process is based on a two-step reactor design, consisting of a boiling point fixed bed reactor followed by a catalytic distillation column. It uses an acidic ion exchange resin catalyst in both steps. MTBE synthesis is a highly selective process that can produce high purity butene-1 or high purity isobutylene via MTBE decomposition.
What sets our tech apart:
- Simple and effective control of reaction temperature
- Most effective heat removal technique
- Low capital cost
Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE)
Sustainable etherification with a better octane boost
Our CDEtbe technology drives the production of clean, octane-boosting, gasoline-blending components using a steam cracker and dehydrogenated C4 feeds. Unlike MTBE, which relies on methanol, this catalytic etherification process yields a sustainable component— ETBE(C₆H₁₄O)—that delivers a higher octane boost and lower vapor pressure. This solution enables refiners to optimize fuel blends, reducing tailpipe emissions and improving combustion efficiency.
What sets our tech apart:
- High conversion
- Lower energy consumption and utility costs compared to conventional methods
- Reduced footprint
- High-purity ethers
- Increased octane rating
- Reduced emissions
Dimethyl Ether (DME)
Upgrading methanol streams for cleaner energy
Unlock maximum value from your methanol streams with our advanced dimethyl ether (DME) technology. Leveraging our catalytic distillation dimethyl ether process (CDDME℠), this solution combines reaction and separation to produce high-purity DME for LPG fuel, power generation, and hydrogen transport. The system features a compact footprint, allowing for seamless integration into existing methanol production efforts. Capable of handling diverse feedstocks, from conventional synthesis pathways to organic wastes and agricultural residues, our CDDME℠ technology provides a powerful new lever to scale clean fuel production using renewable sources.
What sets our tech apart:
- Fewer unit operations
- Higher conversion rates
- Reduced utility and operating costs compared to conventional DME production
Tertiary Amyl Methyl Ether (TAME)
A time-tested, established clean air additive
Our CDTame technology is a staple of our broader etherification portfolio for cleaner fuel and oxygenates via catalytic distillation, a technique where reaction and distillation occur simultaneously in a single column. This offers advantages like high conversion rates and lower capital costs compared to conventional methods. We form TAME (C₆H₁₄O) from refinery C5 feeds. Refiners employ oxygenates as gasoline additives to reduce the carbon monoxide created during the burning of the fuel. The CDTame technology is used with feedstocks that contain methanol rather than ethanol and can help producers meet regulatory requirements.
What sets our tech apart:
- High conversion rates
- Low capital costs
Dimer8
Combination of a fixed-bed reactor and innovative catalytic distillation to achieve high conversion and selectivity.
Lummus Technology’s Dimer8™ is a specialized process used for the selective dimerization of isobutylene to produce high-octane gasoline blendstocks like isooctene and isooctane. It combines a fixed-bed reactor with innovative catalytic distillation to achieve high conversion and selectivity.
What sets our tech apart:
- Achieves conversion rates beyond typical equilibrium levels while lowering capital and operating costs.
- Can process various feedstocks, including C4 streams from Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) units and/or steam crackers
CD Hydro
One unit. Zero compressors. High quality results.
Our patented Benzene CDHydro process uses catalytic distillation to simultaneously hydrogenate benzene into cyclohexane and separate C6 products from heavy aromatics in a single unit. This design achieves benzene conversion rates exceeding 90% while preserving catalyst life through a reflux washing action that minimizes oligomer formation. Constant pressure boiling ensures precise, low-temperature isothermal operation for enhanced safety. By eliminating the need for a hydrogen compressor and reducing associated equipment costs, the Benzene CDHydro process offers a precise, proven, and cost-effective route for producing high-quality cyclohexane.
What sets our tech apart:
- Integrated Design: Combines reaction and fractionation in a single unit operation
- Cost-Effective: Requires less equipment than traditional methods and eliminates the need for a hydrogen compressor
- High Conversion: Low reaction pressure and true counter-current operation result in high single-pass conversions for both benzene and hydrogen
- Precise Control: Constant pressure boiling ensures exact temperature control in the catalyst zone
- Flexible: Applicable to hydrocarbon streams of both low and high benzene content
C4 or C5 CDHydro
The C4 CDHydro catalytic distillation technology processes C4 streams from refineries to produce a stream with high butylenes content that is essentially free of butadiene. The treated C4 stream is suitable for MTBE production, butene-1 production, or alkylation feed.
The C5 CDHydro catalytic distillation technology processes C5 streams from refineries to produce a stream with high amylenes content that is essentially free of pentadienes. The treated C5 stream is suitable for alkylation feed.
What sets our tech apart:
- Preserves linear olefins
- The distillate product is essentially mercaptan-sulfur free
- Isomerization of butene-1 to butene-2 can be maximized to improve alkylate quality or minimized for increased butene-1 recovery
- Lower capital costs due to process intensification
CDHDS / CDHDS+
The trusted choice for clean, Tier 3 gasoline
With global licensed capacity exceeding 1.8 million barrels per day, our CDHDS / CDHDS+ technologies use catalytic distillation to selectively desulfurize gasoline by 99+%, enabling refiners to meet strict regulatory (e.g., Tier 3) standards while maximizing octane retention. The system simultaneously hydrodesulfurizes and fractionates streams, optimizing conditions to minimize yield loss. For strict sulfur targets, CDHDS+ adds a second stage to remove recombinant mercaptans. Proven to work with challenging high-olefin feeds globally, these robust technologies offer significantly longer catalyst life than conventional fixed-bed processes, providing refiners with a cost-effective solution for meeting ultra-low sulfur gasoline requirements.
What sets our tech apart:
- Highly selective process
- Capital and operational cost savings
- Feed processing flexibility
- Proven long-term operation worldwide
- Easier operation than fixed-bed reactors
- Essentially mercaptan-free gasoline product
Non-Catalytic Distillation Technologies
Technologies:
HDSelect
Targeted sulfur removal for the gasoline heart cut
Our HDSelect® technology is an advanced selective hydrotreating process designed to deeply desulfurize gasoline-range streams while preserving key performance components such as olefins and aromatics that are critical to maintaining fuel octane.
This precise selectivity enables refiners to meet strict sulfur specifications while maximizing overall gasoline yield and quality. A complement to CDHDS/CDHDS+, HDSelect offers a targeted, cost-effective solution for optimizing the valuable heart cut of the gasoline pool.
What sets our tech apart:
- Ultra-low sulfur gasoline targeting <100 mg/kg in light fraction and <0.5 ppm in aromatics-rich cut
- Minimum aromatic hydrogenation (<2 wt %) while maintaining olefin content in the final blend
- Efficient hydrogen usage
- Achieves >99.9 wt % conversion of diolefins
CDIsom
CDIsom technology is a simple fixed bed process using zeolite-based catalyst to convert iso-butylene to linear butenes at high selectivity. Near-equilibrium conversion is achieved with low severity operating conditions, resulting in low capital and operating costs.
What sets our tech apart:
- Near-equilibrium conversion of the contained isobutylene per pass is achieved at greater than 85% selectivity to isobutylene.
- Hydrocarbon feed containing isobutylene, such as C4 raffinate or FCC C4s, can be processed without steam or other diluents, and without the addition of catalyst activation agents to promote the reaction.
- High yield of n-butenes
- The butene isomerate is suitable for making various petrochemicals, such as propylene via Olefin Conversion Technology
CDAlky
Best-in-class, low-temperature sulfuric acid alkylation
Our CDAlky® technology delivers a best-in-class, low-temperature sulfuric acid alkylation process that produces premium high-octane motor fuel in a proven and economic manner. Central to this solution is a novel reaction system design that improves mass transfer compared to conventional contactors, reacting light olefin streams with iso-paraffins. Capable of processing both C4 and C5 feedstocks, the technology yields a superior gasoline-blending component with low sulfur concentration and zero olefins. This advanced approach enables producers to profitably and safely create cleaner fuels that improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
What sets our tech apart:
- Optimizes performance and lowers capital and operating costs
- Novel reaction system featuring a unique design that improves mass transfer
- Superior product purity. Produces alkylate with no olefins and low sulfur concentration
- Feedstock flexibility. Capable of processing both C4 and C5 olefin streams
- Economic efficiency. Proven, profitable method for producing premium fuel with minimum acid consumption
- Low sulfur concentration
- Minimum acid consumption
Alky Clean
A solid choice: The world’s safest alkylation technology
Our AlkyClean® process uses a true solid alkylation catalyst to produce premium high-octane fuel. As the only commercially proven solid acid alkylation technology in the world, AlkyClean® eliminates the safety risks and environmental hazards associated with liquid acids. The system uses Albemarle’s robust AlkyStar catalyst in simple, scalable fixed-bed reactors that cycle between on-line alkylation and low-temperature regeneration. This innovative design maximizes yield by preventing acid-soluble oil (ASO) formation and removes the need for complex product treatment. With its carbon steel construction and its easy integration into existing infrastructure, AlkyClean offers a safe, cost-effective solution for modern refining.
What sets our tech apart:
- Carbon steel construction
- Eliminates the need for acid mitigation systems
- Simplifies revamps, using existing infrastructure
Specialty Chemicals
Technologies:
Thermacracking
A solid choice: The world’s safest alkylation technology
Our ThermacrackTM C4 process uses a Lummus Technology proprietary catalyst to decompose commercial grade MTBE feed to high purity isobutylene (HPIB) and commercial grade methanol. Isobutylene purity of greater than 99.9% is achievable. The Thermacrack technology can be either provided in a stand-alone unit or coupled with a CDMtbe® unit to provide a very efficient integrated unit.
What sets our tech apart:
- High MTBE conversion
- Produces >99.9% pure isobutylene
- Simplified integrated process
Energy Transition
Technologies:
Meeting the demand for cleaner energy requires efficient routes to produce low-carbon, drop-in fuels. Our Light Molecules portfolio addresses this challenge with advanced technologies like rDME and Ethanol to Alkylate. By bridging the gap between renewable feedstocks and high-performance fuel specifications, these solutions help producers reduce carbon intensity without compromising operational reliability.
rDME
Decarbonizing LPG fuel, power generation, and hydrogen transport
Accelerate your shift to low-carbon energy with our CDDMESM technology to produce renewable dimethyl ether (rDME). Leveraging our catalytic distillation dimethyl ether process, this solution combines reaction and separation to produce high purity rDME for LPG fuel, power generation, and hydrogen transport. The system features a compact footprint, allowing for seamless integration into existing facilities. By converting renewable feedstocks, such as municipal waste, agricultural residues, and biogas, our CDDME technology provides a powerful new lever to scale clean fuel production using renewable sources.
What sets our tech apart:
- Offers flexible feedstock use including organic wastes, agricultural residues and forestry residues
- Delivers high methanol conversion (>99%), allowing for increased DME production and reduced need of downstream equipment
- Simple process configuration
- Reduced unit footprint, energy storage options and a proven safety record
Related Technologies
