Purity is everything in the petrochemical industry. So when our customers contact us to learn more about our specialty hydrocarbons (HCs), we know they are relying on us for the purest chemicals around.
Trecora is a world leader in specialty hydrocarbons. Our HCs are known for their purity in quality. That is important to our customers because impurities can have devastating effects on both catalytic processes and finished products. Impurities can poison catalysts to reduce efficiency. They can disrupt downstream processes by compromising product quality.
Hydrocarbon Purity in Real Terms
Ultra-high purity hydrocarbons can be 99.9% pure or better. This is the kind of purity companies expect when using them as catalysts. As a catalyst, HCs are required for crucial processes that include cracking, reforming, and polymerization. None of our customers can afford their catalysts to be poisoned.
What constitutes a poison? Some of the more common contaminants include water, oxygenates, and metals. These sorts of things can introduce side reactions capable of blocking catalyst sites. At the very least, contaminants decrease productivity. At worst, they can ruin entire reaction batches.
In terms of manufacturing, impure HCs impact the quality of everything from lubricants to polymers and performance chemicals. Product integrity is compromised and manufacturing consistency suffers. Everything about a formula’s integrity is in question if the HCs involved in its manufacture are contaminated.
More Specific Examples
Hydrocarbon impurity can play out in different ways depending on the processing question. A good example is a catalyst poisoned by sulfur. The catalyst will be less active or inactive altogether, leading to potential shutdown and costly regeneration.
A good manufacturing example would be an impurity in a polymer. Impurities can change a polymer’s color or introduce a foul odor. It can make the polymer unstable or even toxic. Consequences include potential safety issues and a lack of compliance.
How We Ensure Specialty Hydrocarbon Purity
Purity is critical to the specialty HCs the petrochemical industry relies on. What might not be so clear is how Trecora ensures high purity. We accomplish this through rigorous Statistical Process Control (SPC) and custom loading procedures. For example:
- SPC – Our SPC protocols dictate ongoing sampling, real-time testing, and type parameter control. By reducing variation and ensuring that purity targets are consistently achieved, we guarantee our customers they are getting the quality for which they are paying.
- Customization – We can customize loading procedures on a per-application basis. Customization reduces the risk of cross-contamination. It also optimizes batch sequencing and makes better use of processes like nitrogen purging.
- Consistency – The protocols that control our SPC and loading procedures are consistent from start to finish. From sourcing raw materials to processing, storage, and shipment, we stick with the plan. As an added benefit, this provides traceable quality assurance.
- Analytics – We also take advantage of advanced laboratory analytics that allow us to measure and control for even trace contaminants. Processes like gas chromatography and mass spectrometry give us the tools we need to ensure purity.
Your organization relies heavily on high-purity specialty hydrocarbons. You go to great lengths to make sure that lower-quality HCs never contaminate your processes and products. Here and Trecora, we are on board with what you are doing.
Contact us to learn more about our specialty HCs and standards for purity. We are a specialty chemicals processor with the ability to make a variety of chemicals according to the highest standards of quality. Tell us what you need, and we will explain how we can make it happen. Do not compromise purity; go with Trecora.
