Taiyo Oil Boosting Production And Flexibility With Technology From Honeywell UOP

Japanese refiner to produce 300,000 metric tons per year of high-value petrochemicals for polyester production

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May 26, 2015, 10:47 ET

DES PLAINES, Ill., May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- UOP LLC, a Honeywell (NYSE: HON) company, announced today that Japan's Taiyo Oil Co. Ltd. has begun producing petrochemicals with UOP's Tatoray™ process technology, which provides greater flexibility to produce either gasoline or valuable petrochemicals as demand changes.

Taiyo Oil licensed the process technology from UOP in 2013 for its Shikoku Operations in Japan. The new unit started production late last year and met all of its performance guarantees two weeks after start-up. The Tatoray process substantially increases production of benzene and xylenes, which are used to produce polymers and plastics.

"With domestic gasoline demand declining, Japan has become the world leader in reallocating feedstocks, such as naphtha, from making motor fuels to producing in-demand petrochemicals, making Japan one of the largest exporters of components used to make para-xylene," said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president and general manager of UOP's Process Technology and Equipment business unit. "The Tatoray process can more than double the production of mixed xylenes, while significantly reducing the cost of production, making it one of the most economical ways to increase yields of xylenes and benzene."

UOP has worked with Taiyo for nearly 30 years and has provided almost all the process units for its Shikoku operations.

Before Taiyo began using the Tatoray process, the plant used UOP Thermal Hydro-Dealkylation (THDA) technology to convert less valuable, heavy aromatics to benzene, which is used to make plastics and detergents.

UOP's latest-generation Tatoray catalysts, which are used with the Tatoray process, have improved activity and stability in multiple commercial applications. This has enabled greater energy efficiency, higher on-stream efficiency and greater product value in petrochemical-grade benzene and mixed xylenes production. To date, UOP has licensed nearly 100 aromatics complexes, including more than 60 Tatoray units.

Taiyo Oil Co. Ltd. specializes in importing, exporting, refining and marketing petroleum products. Based in Tokyo, Japan, Taiyo also manufacturers, processes and sells petrochemical-based products, including benzene and xylene, as well as explores for oil.

UOP LLC (www.uop.com) is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. and is part of Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions, a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

SOURCE Honeywell