The ebullated bed hydrocracking technology can attain relatively high levels of conversion of heavy residual oil to lighter transportation fuels such as diesel and gasoline. The HCAT technology, in which a proprietary liquid precursor is used to generate a highly active, oil-soluble molecular catalyst in conjunction with Criterion’s ebullated bed catalysts, enhances the performance of these units by enabling higher conversion levels than previously possible.
Pat Laabs, president of Criterion, commented, “We are very excited to enter into this strategic alliance with Headwaters. It will allow refineries around the world to benefit from the complementary strengths of Criterion, a global leader in hydroprocessing catalysts, and Headwaters, a pioneer in dispersed-catalyst nanotechnology.”
Kirk A. Benson, chairman and chief executive officer of Headwaters, observed, “Operators of ebullated bed upgraders may see immediate benefits from the combination of Criterion’s and Headwaters’ catalysts in their existing facilities. In addition, new projects in their early design and developmental stages can incorporate the HCAT Technology and Criterion’s advanced catalysts to help enable them to plan for higher conversion levels, or incorporate more difficult feedstocks than previously thought possible.”
