Snamprogetti

At this time over 95% of all new urea plants are Hcensed by Snamprogetti, Stamicarbon, or Toyo Engineering. SNAM utilizes thermal stripping while STAC (Stamicarbon) and Toyo use CO2 stripping. Only these three processes are, therefore, covered in detail. Process flow sheets are included for others at the end of this section. 

The former Soviet Union constmcted a 262-km, 508-mm dia experimental coal slurry line between the Belovo open-pit coal mine in Siberia s Kuznets basin to an electric power plant at Novosibirsk, using technology developed by Snamprogetti. Testing began in late 1989 and tentative plans call for constmction of two much larger slurry pipelines, each 3000-km long, with capacity to move a total of 33 x 10 t/yr to industrialized areas near the Ural Mountains (27,33). 

The Snamprogetti fluidized-bed process uses a chromium catalyst in equipment that is similar to a refinery catalytic cracker (1960s cat cracker technology). The dehydrogenation reaction takes place in one vessel with active catalyst deactivated catalyst flows to a second vessel, which is used for regeneration. This process has been commercialized in Russia for over 25 years in the production of butenes, isobutylene, and isopentenes. 

Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE). Methyl tert-hutyi ether [1634-04-4] is made by the etherification of isobutylane with methanol, and there are six commercially proven technologies available. These technologies have been developed by Arco, IFF, CDTECH, Phillips, Snamprogetti, and Hbls (hcensed jointly with UOP). The catalyst in all cases is an acidic ion-exchange resin. The United States has been showing considerable interest in this product. Western Europe has been manufacturing it since 1973 (ANIC in Italy and Huls in Germany). Production of MTBE in Western Europe exceeded 600,000 tons in 1990. 

The Snamprogetti process utilizes a tubular isothermal reactor (tubes filled with catalyst) for the first reactor with cooling water on the shell side to control temperature. The Huls process uses either an adiabatic or isothermal reactor for the first reactor. 

A three-step process developed hy Snamprogetti is based on the reaction of acetylene and acetone in liquid ammonia in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide. The product, methylhutynol, is then hydrogenated to methylhutenol followed hy dehydration at 250-300°C over an acidic heterogeneous catalyst. 

The second reaction represents the decomposition of the carbamate. The reaction conditions are 200°C and 30 atmospheres. Decomposition in presence of excess ammonia limits corrosion problems and inhibits the decomposition of the carbamate to ammonia and carbon dioxide. The urea solution leaving the carbamate decomposer is expanded by heating at low pressures and ammonia recycled. The resultant solution is further concentrated to a melt, which is then prilled by passing it through special sprays in an air stream. Figure 5-3 shows the Snamprogetti process for urea production. ... 

Figure 5-3. The Snamprogetti process for producing urea (1) reactor, (2,3,4) carbonate decomposers, (5,6) crystallizing and prilling.

Commercial VR HCK processes include LC Fining from Chevron-Lummus Global H-Oil from Axens/IFP Canmet from Petro-Canada HC3 from Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc. Hycycle Unicracking from UOP VCC from Veba Oil HDH from Intevep SA - IFP U-Can from SCN-Lavalin and ENI Slurry Technology (EST) from Snamprogetti SpA and EniTecnologie. 

MAS [Methanolo alcooli superiori] A process for making mixtures of methanol with higher alcohols, for use as gasoline extenders, developed by a consortium of Snamprogetti, Haldor Topsoe, and Anic. Piloted in a demonstration plant in Italy. 

WSA-SNOX A combined flue-gas treatment process which converts the sulfur dioxide to sulfuric acid and the nitrogen oxides to nitrogen. Developed by Snamprogetti and Haldor Topsoe, based on the WSA process. A large demonstration unit was under construction in 1989. 

Predominantly cis-1,4-polybutadiene is produced by coordination polymerization with mixed catalysts.187,487,488 Three catalyst systems based on titanium, cobalt, or nickel are used in industrial practice. Iodine is an inevitable component in titanium-alkylaluminum sytems to get high cis content. Numerous different technologies are used 490,491 A unique process was developed by Snamprogetti employing a (Tr-allyl)uranium halide catalyst with a Lewis acid cocatalyst.492-494 This catalyst system produces poly butadiene with 1,4-ris content up to 99%. 

Ercolani D. (1986), Production plants and pipeline systems for Snamprogetti s coal water slurries, recent experience and current projects in Italy and USSR. In Hydrotransport 10, (A.P. Bums ed.), BHRA, p.19... 

Rutile-type Cr antimonate, CrSb04, is fairly active and selective in propane ammoxidation in catalysts studied by Snamprogetti, adding V considerably improves... 

A -Formyl morpholine (FM) FORMEX process, Snamprogetti Water is added to the FM to increase its selectivity and also to avoid high reboiler temperatures during solvent recovery by distillation 40° C Perforated-tray extractor, FM density at 1.15 aids phase separation Low corrosion allows use of carbon steel equipment... 

Should MTBE be banned, what would be the logical replacement(s) There are several options available. Several refiners opted to build MTBE capacity and avoid purchasing the ether on the open market. MTBE units were an option to use the facility s isobutylenes. Several licensed processes can be used to convert existing MTBE units. Kvaerner and Lyondell Chemical Co. offer technologies to convert an MTBE unit to produce iso-octane, as shown in Fig. 18.27.12 Snamprogetti SpA and CDTECH also have an iso-octene/iso-octane process. These processes can use various feedstocks such as pure iso-butane, steam-cracked C4 raffinate, 50/50 iso-butane/iso-butene feeds, and FCC butane-butane streams. The process selectively dimerizes C4 olefins to iso-octene and then hydrogenates the iso-octene (di-iso-butene) into iso-octane. The processes were developed to provide an alternative to MTBE. The dimerization reactor uses a catalyst similar to that for MTBE processes thus, the MTBE reactor can easily be converted to... 

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