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
40% of all surfactants used in household laundry detergents

Solid Bed Alkylation (Detal-Plus) is the alkylation technology

of choice for new LAB plants
Kerosene

Crude Oil

Fuels

Refinery

Kerosene
(n-Paraffins)

Prefractionation
and
Unionfining

Benzene

Return
Kerosene

LAB Plant

LAS Plant

LAS Based
Detergents

UOP
MolexTM
Process

UOP
n-Paraffins PacolTM and
DeFineTM
Processes

Stripper

UOP/CEPSA LAB
Detal-PlusTM
Process

UOP Molex Process

Improvements
Molex
Adsorbent
Chambers

Light
Kerosene (C9-)

UOP
PEPTM
Process

Heavy
Alkylate

Recycle n-Paraffins

UOP
Molex
Process

Kerosene Pretreatment
Improvements

Aromatics

Hydrogen

Return
Kerosene

Prefractionation
and
Unionfining

Benzene

Light
Ends

Extract and
Raffinate
Columns

Rotary
Valve

Light
Kerosene (C9-)

DWC

Rerun

Kerosene

C10-13

Kerosene

Desorbent

C10-13

Raffinate

Heavy
Kerosene
(C14+)

Heavy
Kerosene
(C14+)

Extract
n-Paraffins
Product

Feed

Single Dividing Wall Column (DWC) replaces traditional

2-column unit for reduced capital and utility requirements
Newly developed catalysts result in operation at lower
separator pressures

UOP
Pacol and
DeFine
Processes

UOP Pacol Process

Improvements
Increased catalyst space
velocity reduces the
catalyst requirement and
the reactor size
Latest DeH-15 catalyst
exhibits improved
selectivity, reducing the
size of the reactor

Reduced Rotary Valve cycle times increase throughput

The addition of a tertiary flush, and reduction in circulation
and reflux rates reduce the size of the columns in the unit
and the utilities requirements

UOP/CEPSA
Detal-Plus
Process

H3C(CH2)x

UOP Detal-Plus Process

Improvements
New ZDA-2 catalyst allows
for significantly reduced
(CH2)yCH3
benzene circulation rates,
which results in reduced
vessel sizes and utility
requirements

LAB

Improved reactor and

fractionation column
designs also result in
reduced vessel sizes and
utility requirements

Optimized hydrogen-tohydrocarbon ratio reduces

utilities

25% reduction in energy costs and capital

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

reduction
in energy cost

2013 Honeywell International Inc.

6035-1

reduction
in capital cost

improvement
in the IRR