Trim Desulfurization Process for Off Spec Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel Transmix
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that refiners
reduce the sulfur level in 80% of their on-road diesel production to 15
ppm effective June 1, 2006. In order to facilitate a smooth transition
from low sulfur diesel (LSD) containing 500 ppm sulfur to this ultra low
sulfur diesel (ULSD), terminals will have until September 1, 2006 and
retail outlets until October 15, 2006 to comply.
To meet the sulfur specification of 15 ppm in the final product, refiners
are expected to produce ULSD containing only 6-7 ppm sulfur. This
ULSD will then be pipelined to terminal facilities throughout the United
States along with jet fuel and kerosene containing as much as 2000-
5000 ppm sulfur; and a substantial amount of mixing of products will
occur at the interfaces. Some of this interfacial material, known as
“transmix,” is expected to exceed the EPA’s 15 ppm sulfur limit and
therefore will not be able to be sold as ULSD.
An estimated 250,000 barrels/day of off-spec transmix ULSD are
expected; and existing transmix facilities that are designed to simply
separate gasoline/diesel transmix into its component boiling ranges by
distillation will be unable to remove sulfur that may be blended into
ULSD. Through 2010, product owners will have the option to
downgrade ULSD transmix to 500 ppm sulfur diesel or #2 heating oil
subject to the 20% rule and at a financial loss.
TransFining-D is a cost-effective and simple process being developed
by Trans Ionics Corporation specifically to meet the needs of refiners in
recovering product that would otherwise be downgraded resulting in a
cost to the ULSD owner and a potential shortage of ULSD to
consumers. Experimental data show that TransFining-D can remove
more than 95% of the sulfur from a mixture containing 25 ppm sulfur,
under very mild conditions. Scale-up of the process is continuing
through the end of 2006; and the final process is expected to be
commercially available in mid to late 2007 for toll processing of transmix
on-site at terminal facilities using truck-mounted units.
Please contact us for more details.
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Technology: TransFining-D
BENEFITS:
- Process specifically designed to remove 10-
15 ppm sulfur from off-spec product, bringing
ULSD sulfur content to <14 ppm.
- Sulfur removal occurs at room temperature,
thereby
- eliminating any safety or process issues
related to
- heating the feed.
- Units to be self-contained and truck-mounted
for easy transport to terminal facilities.
- Initial units to be designed with capacities of
2,500
- barrels/day. Larger capacities believed to be
feasible.
- Operated on a toll processing basis. No
capital expenditures required from ULSD
transmix owners.
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT:
- TransFining-D is currently in the laboratory
testing phase.
o > 10 ppm sulfur removal demonstrated on
ULSD sample
o Laboratory work to be complete by end of
3Q06
- Pilot testing on continuous system scheduled
for 4Q06
- Expect to be in commercial operation in late
2007
