Flexible clean fuel component process technologies for you to license

Our NEXOCTANE process is ideal when you want to produce non-aromatic hydrocarbons with premium octane values. Dimerization of isobutylene in adiabatic reactors produces iso-octene, which you can further saturate to iso-octane with our novel NEXSATTM process technology. 

You control product quality through careful maintenance of optimum reactor conditions by recirculating alcohol to keep a low proportion of oligomers. After further treatment, you can use the C4 raffinate in an alkylation unit or dehydrogenation plant.

Proven process to produce iso-octene and iso-octane

If you want to make the move to clean fuel production without ethers, this technology saves you money. You can have the NEXOCTANE process installed as a low-cost retrofit of your existing MTBE or ETBE facilities, or as part of a grass-roots plant. 

The design is always solid with excellent availability due to the long catalyst age and ease of operation. Suitable for a wide range of olefinic C4 feedstocks, the technology provides a high-grade output with a great blending flexibility. Low RVP, superb octane values and low or non-existent sulfur content will easily meet environmental demands while simultaneously increasing your profits.

Numerous benefits of NEXOCTANE™ refining technology

Economical benefits

• For refinery applications NEXOCTANE dimerization section alone is an attractive minimum cost alternative delivering excellent blending properties of iso-octene 

• Excellent availability and long catalyst age

Product Benefits

• Greater blending flexibility

• Non-aromatic product

• Essentially no sulfur in saturated iso-octane product

Flexibility of Design

• MTBE or ETBE as an alternative option for swing-mode production is easily built in

• C4 trimerization to JET fuel component production in campaign mode can be arranged

With specifications changing and costs rising, gasoline producers want the optimal solution for processing C4-C7 streams to their highest value. In the NEXETHERS process iso-olefins and alcohol react to ethers in the presence of a conventional ion exchange resin catalyst. 

The first fractionator separates heavy hydrocarbons and ether products from the remaining C4 stream. The second fractionator integrates alcohol recovery and oxygenate removal, giving you almost total recovery of feed isobutene and alcohol.

Achieve current and future specification at low cost

You save money at every stage of this process. An optimized single unit covers a range of input streams. Capital expenses are low as no additional equipment is needed for processing the alcohol recycle stream. 

Your production targets can be maintained, since NEXETHERS uses equipment with trouble-free maintenance and you don’t need to shut it down even during the catalyst change. With the freedom to vary the olefinic input anywhere from C4 to C7 and to choose between methanol and ethanol feed, you have the maximum flexibility with high yields at low cost with any of the feed combinations.

NEXETHERS process technology for combined ethers production

The Ultimate Combined Ethers Technology

• Extremely high yields at low cost, using low maintenance equipment

• No additional equipment is required for processing ethanol

Feed Flexibility

• Complete freedom to choose between methanol and ethanol

• With bioethanol feed, a low-cost way to maximize biogasoline yield from cracked and olefinic feedstocks

Excellent availability and track record for easy operation

• Conventional catalyst available from several sources, requires no complex loading procedures

• No need to shut the unit down during the catalyst change

Neste’s NEXETHERS single component process, using a conventional ion exchange resin catalyst, makes isobutylene and alcohol react to form ether. A dual fractionator system integrates alcohol recovery and oxygenate removal, giving you effortlessly high conversion rates, both for isobutylene and feed alcohol.

Your production targets can be maintained, since the process uses equipment that requires little maintenance, and you don’t need to shut it down even during the catalyst change. With the freedom to choose between methanol and ethanol feeds or, to later convert to iso-octene production if needed, you have the maximum flexibility with excellent MTBE and ETBE yields at low cost.

Numerous benefits of NEXETHERS process technology for MTBE and ETBE production

Economical Benefits

• Extremely high MTBE and ETBE yields at low cost using low maintenance equipment

• The ultimate integration of alcohol recovery and oxygenates removal – essentially total alcohol conversion

Feed and Product Flexibility

• Complete freedom to choose between methanol and ethanol feed or convert to iso-octene production

• With bioethanol feed, a low-cost way to maximize biogasoline yield from isobutylene and olefinic feedstocks

High availability and easy operability

• Individually controlled reactor temperatures ensure high ether yield with minimal side product formation

• Conventional catalyst available from several sources, needs no complex loading procedures or shutdown during the catalyst change

The trick is to use naturally-occurring azeotropes to concentrate alcohol and unreacted hydrocarbon reactants in a column side draw. All formed fuel ethers and inert gasoline grade hydrocarbons concentrate at the bottom. As they contain only a trace of alcohol, they can be blended together in the gasoline pool without further treatment.

Flexibility of input and a wider range of output allows your facility to cope with the changing market demand. For example, NEXTAEE is a low-cost way to produce biofuels in an oil refinery from FCC cracked naphtha while improving the overall quality of these feedstocks. 

Solid design practices, optimized process conditions and low-maintenance equipment reduce both operating and investment costs. With these proven technologies, you can count on seeing impressive financial returns appear quickly. 

Numerous benefits of NEXTAME and NEXTAEE technologies for maximum ethers production

The flexible ethers process technology

• Suitable for processing of any feed in the C5 to C7 range, with loose requirements for pre-distillation

• Complete freedom to choose between methanol and ethanol

Economical Benefits

• C5 – C7 etherification with integrated alcohol recovery –  maximum quality improvement at low Capex

• NEXTAEE provides a low cost way to produce biofuels in an oil refinery

Excellent availability and track record for easy operation

• Individually controlled reactor temperatures ensure high ether yield with minimal side product formation

• Conventional catalyst available from several sources, simple loading procedures