10-03-2025
Petrobras and Riograndense refinery become the first to produce fuels with cellulosic content in Brazil
Petrobras and Riograndense Refinery successfully completed an industrial scale co-processing test using 5% pyrolysis bio-oil combined with fossil feedstock. The refinery, located in Rio Grande, southern Brazil, has Petrobras, Ultra and Braskem as shareholder companies.
Petrobras provided the technology for the co-processing test conducted at RPR's catalytic cracking unit, which lasted seven days and was concluded on February 17th. A highly specialized technical team from Petrobras and Riograndense offered support throughout the commissioning, startup, operation, and shutdown stages of the bio-oil supply to the process. When co-processed at RPR's FCC unit, the bio-oil was converted into various fractions such as fuel gas, LPG, and components for gasoline formulation and marine fuel with renewable content.
Innovative process for the refining industry
For the test, the FCC unit was adapted to enable the simultaneous bio-oil and fossil feedstock co-processing. The reactor catalyst belongs to the ReNewFCC line, produced in partnership with Fábrica Carioca de Catalisadores (FCC S.A.), a joint venture between Petrobras and Ketjen.
The renewable fraction was supplied by Vallourec – Florestal unit. The bio-oil production is ISCC PLUS certified and involves the condensation of vapors generated during eucalyptus charcoal production, which helps in preventing GHG emissions.
Leading the way in biorefining
In late 2023, RPR became the first in the world to process 100% vegetable oil in an FCC unit, producing fuels and feedstocks for the chemical industry, such as propylene and bio-aromatics (BTX – benzene, toluene, and xylenes), also with Petrobras´ Research, Development, and Innovation Center (CENPES) technology.
"The recent test represents a significant breakthrough for global biorefining, as it could enable wood and other agroforestry residues transformation, which are widely available, into derivatives typically produced in oil refineries," says Petrobras' Director of Engineering, Technology, and Innovation, Renata Baruzzi.
Petrobras' Director of Industrial Processes and Products, William França, emphasizes that "the innovative aspect of this new CENPES development is the bio-oil introduction into an existing refining asset, reducing the need for additional investments and opening a broader perspective in the energy transition and value generation for the industry".
According to Petrobras' Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mauricio Tolmasquim, "with COP30 approaching, this innovation reinforces Petrobras' and Brazil's leadership on the international scenario, consolidating the company's role in driving technological solutions for the energy transition in our country,".
The initiatives are part of Petrobras' BioRefining Program, which foresees US$ 1.5 billion investments within its 2025-29 Business Plan. The co-processing test at RPR complies with the RD&I clauses of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP).
The cellulosic content test is part of the ongoing efforts to transform RPR into a biorefinery in the coming years. “In line with our commitment to leading a just energy transition in Brazil, the Riograndense Refinery has the potential to become the world's first refinery to produce continuously 100% renewable products. It will become a biorefinery dedicated to producing fuels exclusively from renewable materials," concludes Petrobras’ CEO, Magda Chambriard.
News Category:
-
TotalEnergies to offtake 1.5 Mtpa of LNG from the future Train 4 of Rio Grande LNG Facility
TotalEnergies has signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with NextDecade to buy 1.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the future ...
24-04-2025
-
PETRONAS powers Vietnam’s energy future with its first LNG cargo delivery to PetroVietnam Gas
PETRONAS, through its subsidiary, PETRONAS LNG Ltd. (PLL) successfully concluded the delivery of its first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargo to PetroVietnam Gas (PV Gas) ...
24-04-2025
-
Neste and Eckerö Line continue collaborating to reduce maritime emissions in the Baltic Sea
Neste and Finnish company Eckerö Line, which operates ferry services between Helsinki and Tallinn, are continuing their collaboration to reduce maritime emissions. Eckerö ...
24-04-2025
-
bp completes loading of first cargo from Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project
bp has safely loaded the first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export from its GTA Phase 1 project offshore Mauritania and Senegal. This follows flow of first ...
24-04-2025
-
TotalEnergies will supply 400,000 Tons of LNG per year for 15 years in the Dominican Republic
TotalEnergies has signed an agreement (HoA) with Energia Natural Dominicana (ENADOM), the Joint Venture between AES Dominicana and Energas in the Dominican Republic, ...
24-04-2025
-
Calpine, ExxonMobil sign CO2 transportation and storage agreement for power generation project
Exxon Mobil Corporation announced an agreement with Calpine Corporation, the nation’s largest producer of electricity from natural gas, to transport and permanently ...
24-04-2025
-
Pioneering hydrogen infrastructure: Mabanaft joins TransHyDE 2.0 as founding member
Mabanaft announces its role as a founding member of the newly launched TransHyDE 2.0 initiative, which aims to advance the development of a robust European hydrogen infrastructure. ...
23-04-2025
-
TotalEnergies to reconfigure its petrochemicals operations to strengthen competitiveness
TotalEnergies’ Antwerp platform provides an update on its investments for the future and announces plan to reconfigure its petrochemicals operations to strengthen competitiveness. ...
22-04-2025
-
Amogy to accelerate commercialisation of ammonia cracking catalyst in partnership with JGC
Amogy, a provider of mature, scalable, and efficient ammonia-to-power solutions, today announced the first pilot plant deployment of its advanced ammonia cracking catalyst ...
17-04-2025
-
Saneg JetWhites to develop business in the aviation fuel segment
Uzbekistan oil and gas company Saneg announces the creation of a new subsidiary - Saneg JetWhites, which will become an operator for the sale of aviation fuel of both ...
16-04-2025