ExxonMobil licensee completes start-up

ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing LLC and Thai Paraxylene Company Limited announced the successful start-up of the first licensed application in Thailand of ExxonMobil’s new Olgone technology. The Olgone process implemented at Thai PX’s Sriracha petrochemical complex removes olefinic contaminants from a heavy reformate feed, replacing a traditional clay treatment process. The mixed xylenes separated from the treated heavy reformate are converted to paraxylene as the final product. Duangporn Teerapabpaisit, Thai PX’s manufacturing manager, said, “We selected the ExxonMobil Olgone technology because it lengthens the reformate treater cycles and reduces overall costs. The technology offerings span petrochemical and polymer sectors including manufacturing technologies for low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, paraxylene, benzene, mixed xylenes, ethylbenzene, cumene, propylene and ethylene, with supporting proprietary catalyst offerings in the aromatics process technology areas. (August 2, 2007)