Jiangsu Sailboat To Use Honeywell Technology To Produce On-Purpose Propylene To Meet Growing Plastics Demand

DES PLAINES, Ill., March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical Co., Ltd. will use Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex™ technology to produce 700,000 metric tons per year of polymer-grade propylene at its facility in Lianyungang City in China's Jiangsu Province. Jiangsu Sailboat will expand its existing facility, which uses Honeywell UOP's methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process to produce ethylene and propylene. The facility's additional output of propylene will further help China meet its demand for plastics used to make a wide range of consumer goods.

Honeywell UOP, a leading technology provider for the oil and gas industry, will provide licensing and a process design package, equipment, on-site operator training, technical services, and catalysts and adsorbents for the project. 

"As demand for propylene derivatives for consumer products in China continues to rise, UOP's Oleflex technology provides greater energy and cost efficiency than other propane dehydrogenation technologies," said Bryan Glover, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP's Process Technology and Equipment business. "Customers such as Jiangsu Sailboat also find the technology to be environmentally preferable and provide a higher return on investment."

Honeywell UOP's C3 Oleflex technology uses catalytic dehydrogenation to convert propane to propylene. Its low-energy consumption, low-emissions and fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system helps minimize its impact on the environment. It is designed to have a lower cash cost of production and higher return on investment compared to other technologies. The independent reaction and regeneration sections enable steady-state operations, improved operating flexibility and a high on-stream factor and reliability. Honeywell UOP also licenses C4 Oleflex technology, which converts isobutane to isobutylene, the primary ingredient for making high-octane fuel additives and synthetic rubber.

Including this project, Honeywell UOP's Oleflex technology has been selected for a majority of propane and isobutane dehydrogenation projects globally since 2011. The agreement with Jiangsu Sailboat marks Honeywell's 36th award in China for its proprietary Oleflex technology. Since the technology was first commercialized nearly 30 years ago, UOP has commissioned 31 Oleflex units for on-purpose propylene and isobutylene production. Global production capacity of propylene from Oleflex technology now stands at approximately 7.3 million metric tons per year.

Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of Shenghong Holding Group located in Xuwei new district Industrial Park, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu province. When fully completed, the Sailboat olefins complex will produce more than 2.5 million tons of short-supply high-end petrochemical products annually. 

Honeywell UOP (www.uop.com) is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Honeywell UOP is part of Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions (www.honeywellprocess.com), a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com/us/en) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.  For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/us/en/news.