COLUMBIA, MD, October 24, 2023 – W. R. Grace & Co (Grace), a global leader in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives for refining petrochemicals, today announced its latest innovation in a long line of breakthroughs in catalyst technology for helping refiners produce transportation fuels and lower their carbon footprint.
PARAGON™ FCC catalyst incorporates a novel, rare earth-based, Vanadium (V) trap into high matrix surface area catalyst solutions for the FCC unit. With PARAGON™ technology, refiners can widen their FCC operating window and increase flexibility to process a range of feedstocks for greater profitability. Importantly, this technology leads to maximum bottoms upgrading of feedstocks along with improved conversion at constant coke yield, allowing refiners to produce fuels in a more sustainable manner.
PARAGON™ catalyst is the result of a multi-year R&D program to develop an advanced Vanadium trap and builds on the metals tolerance of Grace’s popular MIDAS® catalyst platform.
“With the adoption of carbon taxation and emissions trading systems on the rise, refiners are under pressure to produce fuels in a more sustainable manner,” said Luis Cirihal, President, Grace Refining Technologies. “PARAGON™ catalyst will help FCC operators produce higher yields of fuels per unit of CO2 emission from the FCC. This technology not only helps refiners meet their sustainability goals, but provides strong economic incentive,” he said.
“One of the trends we see is that the economics of upgrading resid in the FCC are very strong. Our customers are taking advantage of this trend, processing heavier, higher metal laden feeds. Using generic economics, in one trial we estimated use of PARAGON™ catalyst resulted in $0.65/bbl of value delivery which translates into $14MM per year for an average size FCC,” explained Dr. Bani Cipriano, FCC Segment Marketing Manager, Grace.
As the leading FCC catalyst producer, Grace continues to invest in R&D and its plants to introduce new catalyst technologies into the FCC market.
Grace is recognized as a global leader in specialty inorganic catalysts used in energy and refining, polyolefins and plastics, as well as petrochemical, and other chemical manufacturing applications. For the refining industry, Grace specializes in fluid-catalytic cracking (FCC) and hydroprocessing applications for the vital transportation fuels that keep our world moving.
About Grace
Built on talent, technology, and trust, Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a leading global supplier of catalysts, engineered materials, and fine chemicals. The company’s two industry-leading business segments—Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies—provide innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the products and processes of our customers around the world. With more than 4,500 employees, Grace operates and/or sells to customers in over 100 countries. GRACE® is a registered trademark in the United States and/or other countries of W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, that is, information related to future, not past, events. Such statements generally include the words “expects,” “outlook,” “believes,” “plans,” “will,” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation: expected financial positions; results of operations; cash flows; competitive positions; and markets for securities. Like other businesses, Grace is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from its projections or that could cause other forward-looking statements to prove incorrect. Factors that could cause such differences include, without limitation: risks related to foreign operations, currency exchange rate changes; public health and safety concerns; natural disasters and force majeure events; changes in laws and regulations; the cost and availability of raw materials and energy; Grace’s legal and environmental proceedings; costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations (including those pertaining to climate change); cyberattacks; the economics of its customers’ industries; and shifting consumer preferences. Past results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Grace’s forward-looking statements, which speak only as the dates originally made. Grace undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revision to the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of their publication herein.
PARAGON™ is a trademark of W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
Contact
Shelly DeButts
Marketing Communications Manager
W. R. Grace & Co.
+1 205.410.4411
shelly.debutts@grace.com