Laura Leonard’s work has impacted multiple refining and petrochemicals technologies, with major contributions to light olefin production, clean fuels technology, and integrated refining-petrochemical complexes.
In 2010, Leonard became the senior technology specialist for UOP’s Oleflex technology, a catalytic dehydrogenation process for the production of light olefins from their corresponding paraffins.
Her leadership on the Oleflex process included technology renewal efforts to enhance process performance by combining fundamental understanding of solids flow and catalyst chemistry. Her effective communication, intelligent risk-taking, and leadership of diverse cross-functional teams impact all 17 announced Oleflex units around the world.
She has also contributed to the commercialization of UOP’s SelectFining process (a selective FCC naphtha hydrodesulfurization process), and to innovative catalyst and process solutions to the problem of gasoline desulfurization without significant loss of product octane.