HP Tagline--Column--Editorial Comment

Biofuels and green petrochemicals: New developments in global technologies and markets

Lee Nichols, Vice President, Content/Editor-in-Chief

Throughout its history, the hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) has continued to evolve and innovate to meet global product demand, whether that is for liquid fuels or petrochemicals. Over the past several years, many nations around the world have enacted ambitious net-zero targets to reduce carbon emissions. Ultimately, these regulations significantly affect heavy carbon-emitting industries such as cement, mining, transportation, refining and petrochemicals.

However, the global HPI continues to adapt and evolve processes, technologies and operations to produce much-needed products in demand globally, while reducing its carbon footprint. This pathway takes many forms, including the increase in bio-feedstock blending into fuels and petrochemical products production, incorporating digital and carbon capture technologies to mitigate emissions, and using new processes, feedstocks and catalysts to optimize operations.

Because of the importance of these trends, Hydrocarbon Processing has devoted this issue—as well as numerous sections in several issues each year—to the latest technologies, services, products and strategies that are being incorporated by refiners and petrochemical producers around the world to produce cleaner fuels and petrochemicals. These topics are also the focal point of Hydrocarbon Processing’s International Refining and Petrochemical Conference (IRPC) in September and the ChemE Show, a JV with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), in November.

As markets for biofuels and green petrochemicals expand, so will the innovative technologies to enhance operations and production processes. One thing is certain—Hydrocarbon Processing will be there to cover these developments in-depth and provide our readers with the latest case studies, technologies, services and best practices that will be instrumental in moving the HPI forward. HP