BASF researchers receive R&D award for BoroCat catalyst designed to optimize oil refiners’ yields
ISELIN, NJ, November 3, 2017 – The Research and Development Council of New Jersey recognized BASF inventors Robert McGuire, Gary M. Smith and Bilge Yilmaz with the prestigious 2017 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award for outstanding environmental contributions.
The team of researchers developed BoroCat™, the first Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst based on BASF’s unique Boron-Based Technology (BBT) platform. With BoroCat, crude oil that would be rejected due to its metal content can now be extracted and used in refining processes for fuels such as diesel and gasoline.
Metals, particularly nickel, often trigger unwanted side reactions that reduce a refinery’s processing efficiency. Boron has an inherent affinity to nickel; and therefore, the BoroCat BBT platform enables refineries to improve their yields and profitability .
“It is a great honor for BASF and our inventors to be recognized for this important environmental innovation,” said Peter Walther, Senior Vice President, Heterogeneous Catalysis Research at BASF. “BoroCat increases crude oil conversion, reduces waste products, and lowers energy requirements, which improves the sustainable use of a limited hydrocarbon resource.”
In 2015, BASF launched BoroCat for processing heavy resid oil feedstocks. Since then, BoroCat has been successfully introduced in refineries all over the world.
Earlier this year, BASF announced the commercial launch of Borotec™, the newest evolution of its resid oil Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalysts portfolio. Borotec is the latest innovation using BASF’s unique BBT platform to provide mild- and moderate-resid feed FCC units more flexibility in crude selection, which results in increased yields of high-value products.
Additional information on BASF’s BoroCat and Borotec solutions can be found at: www.catalysts.basf.com/refining
For a press photo, please click on the following link: https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2017/11/11-03-17_Borocat.jpg
Suggested Caption: The Research and Development Council of New Jersey has awarded a team of BASF inventors (from left to right: Robert McGuire, Gary M. Smith, Bilge Yilmaz) with the prestigious 2017 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award for outstanding environmental contributions.
About BASF’s Catalysts Division
BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. By leveraging our industry-leading R&D platforms, passion for innovation and deep knowledge of precious and base metals, BASF’s Catalysts division develops unique, proprietary solutions that drive customer success. Further information on BASF’s Catalysts division is available on the Internet at www.catalysts.basf.com.
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $16.2 billion in 2016. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.