C₄ Fractionation

Butene-1 compound is a Linear Alpha-Olefin (LAO), mainly used as co-monomer in the production of poly-ethylene. Producing Butene-1, either ‘on purpose’ out of ethylene by dimerization, or out of C₄’s olefinic cuts through Butene-1 recovery complex, is often a decision driven by the quality and cost of the regionally available Steam Cracker feedstock. Axens is a major supplier of technology in the Butene-1 market via C₄s feedstock with Hydrogenation BD Lean Max B1 technology combined with Butene-1 Superfractionation technology, or via Ethylene feedstock with the ethylene dimerization technology AlphaButol®.

Isobutylene can be used in several polymer products with a large variety of applications (PIB, PMMA, etc.).

Isobutylene is produced from “extraction” of C₄ olefin cuts - sourced either from FCC and/or Steam crackers. Historically the extraction route was performed through sulfuric acid extraction processes, , and nowadays from “on-purpose” technologies, mainly by decomposition of MTBE or dehydration of TBA.

Butene-1 Superfractionation

Axens Butene-1 Superfractionation technology can be integrated within existing C4’s cut complexes or implemented in grassroot projects (combined or not with Axens Hydrogenation technology BD Lean and/or Axens MTBE technology).

This is a cost-efficient and industrially proven technology, based on a fractionation philosophy to isolate Butene-1 out of the others butenes co-boilers with high efficiency.

Depending on the project specificities, this technology can be featured with a Heat Pump system, providing long-term savings on utility and limiting environmental impact.

Proven Technology

Offer Butene-1 product access to about any C4’s cut olefins sources

Taylored design technology

Consulting

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Isopure™

Axens Isopure™ technology is a solution to produce high purity isobutene from C₄’s olefins cuts.

This proven technology relies on a reactive distillation process in combination with hydro isomerization of 1-butene to 2-butenes. This concept eliminates the equilibrium limitations of conventional processes that convert 1-butene to 2-butene. The reactive distillation process occurs on a conventional distillation column combined with external reactors located on pump-around.-This facilitates the catalyst change-out operation and limits consequent unit downtime.

Industrially proven technology

Design conception providing maintenance advantages with external reactor configuration

Avoid the use and management of additives such as chemicals - sulfuric acid – or methanol, respectively used in conventional extraction units and MTBE cracking processes

Consulting

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

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