Implementation of Olemax208 at Dow's Back End Acetylene Hydrogenation Unit

Selective acetylene hydrogenation is widely used to reduce acetylene in the ethylene stream to meet the specifications of polymer grade ethylene. For a backend selective hydrogenation system, hydrogen is injected into the reactor with the C2 cut at a controlled hydrogen to acetylene ratio. The hydrogen can be obtained from either a pure source (such as PSA) or a methanator. For Dow’s Louisiana Operations back end acetylene hydrogenation unit, a high CO containing hydrogen stream is occasionally used as the hydrogen source for the reactor resulting in highly variable CO and H2 inlet concentrations. This requires a catalyst more robust to this process variability and a wide operation window. In lab and process “skid rig” evaluation at Dow, Clariant’s OleMax^®208 has demonstrated stable performance at high CO feed concentrations, variable H2 concentrations, and a wide operation window. OleMax^®208 was implemented in Dow’s Louisiana Operations back end acetylene hydrogenation unit in March, 2016, and in this presentation, Dow’s experience of using this catalyst will be shared.