China National Petroleum, UOP team on biofuels project

Des Plaines, Ill.-based UOP said today it signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Petroleum (CNP) to collaborate on biofuels technologies and projects in China.

The companies plan to look at existing biofuels technology to produce clean transportation fuels from feedstocks available in China. Financial details were not disclosed.

Beijing-based CNP is also expected to evaluate installing a demonstration scale unit using UOP's technology to produce clean diesel as well as a larger scale unit at an existing or new CNP refinery site. CNP, one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, said it is focused on developing and deploying advanced biofuel technologies.

The companies plan to collaborate on the design of the demonstration unit to produce clean diesel as well as renewable jet fuel. They’ll also be looking for ways to increase energy efficiency of existing and new ethanol plants in China using membrane technology.

UOP, a subsidiary of Honeywell International (NYSE:HON), said its Ecofining process, which would be installed at the demonstration scale unit, uses catalytic hydroprocessing technology to convert natural oils to clean diesel (see Refinery supplier UOP intros green diesel).

The end product, a direct substitute for diesel fuel, has an enhanced cetane value of about 80. Cetane value is the measurement of the combustion quality of diesel. Traditional diesel used today at the pump has a cetane value of 40 to 60.

CNPC is hoping initiatives with UOP will allow it to meet renewable energy targets from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, which are aligned with a 2007 strategic understanding between NDRC, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote industrial energy efficiency and emissions reductions.

Last month, UOP and Los Angeles-based synthetic fuels and fertilizer company Rentech expanded their clean fuel offerings, adding to a previously established alliance (see Rentech, UOP expand clean fuel offerings). 

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