Sonatrach (Algiers, Algeria; www.sonatrach.com) is nearing completion of a new paraxylene crystallization plant at its integrated refinery and petrochemical site in Skikda, Algeria, with startup scheduled during December of 2013. The plant’s core units will utilize CrystPX and GT-IsomPX process technology, both licensed from GTC Technology (Houston, Tex.; www.gtctech.com). CrystPX recovers paraxylene from reformate feedstock while GT-IsomPX, using ISOXYL catalyst from Clariant (Muttenz, Switzerland; www.clariant.com), isomerizes eight-carbon aromatics into additional paraxylene. The license also includes naphtha hydrotreating and reforming, aromatics extraction, and other aromatics operations. Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd., provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the new facilities.
Sonatrach and GTC near completion on new paraxylene plant in Algeria
| By Mary Page Bailey