Linear_Alkylbenzene_6035_Layout 1 4/19/13 4:06 PM Page 1

Energy Efficient Plant Designs

for Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB)
by: UOP LLC, A Honeywell Company:
Larry C. Erickson, Stephen W. Sohn and Yuree K. Whang

Cost reduction improvements are being implemented

into the latest LAB plant designs for a significant reduction
in energy and capital requirements.

Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) accounts for more than Solid Bed Alkylation (Detal-Plus) is the alkylation technology
40% of all surfactants used in household laundry detergents of choice for new LAB plants

Kerosene
Crude Oil
Refinery Fuels
Light Benzene
Benzene Prefractionation Ends
Kerosene Return and Heavy
(n-Paraffins) Kerosene Unionfining Hydrogen Aromatics Alkylate

LAB Plant
UOP
UOP n-Paraffins PacolTM and UOP UOP/CEPSA LAB
MolexTM DeFineTM PEPTM Detal-PlusTM
LAS Based Process Process Process
LAS Plant Detergents Processes

Return
Kerosene Recycle n-Paraffins

Prefractionation UOP
and Kerosene Pretreatment Molex
UOP Molex Process
Unionfining Improvements Process Improvements

Molex Extract and

Light Adsorbent Rotary Raffinate
Kerosene (C9-) Chambers Valve Columns
Light
Kerosene (C9-)

Stripper Rerun DWC

Desorbent
Kerosene C10-13 Kerosene C10-13
Raffinate

Heavy
Kerosene
Heavy (C14+)
Kerosene
(C14+) Extract
n-Paraffins
Product
Feed

• Single Dividing Wall Column (DWC) replaces traditional • Reduced Rotary Valve cycle times increase throughput
2-column unit for reduced capital and utility requirements • The addition of a tertiary flush, and reduction in circulation
• Newly developed catalysts result in operation at lower and reflux rates reduce the size of the columns in the unit
separator pressures and the utilities requirements

UOP
UOP/CEPSA
Pacol and UOP Pacol Process Detal-Plus UOP Detal-Plus Process
DeFine
Processes
Improvements Process Improvements

• Increased catalyst space • New ZDA-2 catalyst allows

velocity reduces the
(CH2)yCH3 for significantly reduced
catalyst requirement and benzene circulation rates,
the reactor size H3C(CH2)x which results in reduced
• Latest DeH-15 catalyst vessel sizes and utility
exhibits improved requirements
selectivity, reducing the LAB • Improved reactor and
size of the reactor fractionation column
• Optimized hydrogen-to- designs also result in
hydrocarbon ratio reduces reduced vessel sizes and
utilities utility requirements

25% reduction in energy costs and capital

costs from latest LAB plant technologies!
* 100 KMTA LAB Plant

reduction
in energy cost
+ reduction
in capital cost = improvement
in the IRR

© 2013 Honeywell International Inc. 6035-1