Research Projects

According to the Chemical & Petrochemicals Manufacturers’ Association, India, the percentage demand growth for polypropylene is about 8%. A similar CAGR (8.5%) was quoted by Research and Markets in a report that forecasts India’s polypropylene requirements till 2030.[1] The reports state that the current market demand stood at 5.48 million tons, and by 2030, India will require 10.29 million tons or more. In this context, a contract was recently awarded by IOCL to Tecnimont SPA and Tecnimont Private Ltd for engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) services of a 200,000 tpy grassroots polypropylene plant for its Barauni refinery. [2] The ever-growing demand for plastics and the absence of an appropriate substitute implies that propane dehydrogenation offers an attractive route for propylene (and hydrogen) production. The proposed prototype can, therefore, definitely tap this potential. The proposed activities have been planned at 20g catalyst loading in a fixed bed reactor setup. Once feasibility studies become successful, further scale-up activities would be pursued after consultation with industrial partners before commercial trials. CSIR- IIP has already signed an MOU with IOCL R&D, and forward talks are also in progress with KBR on PDH technology. Therefore, once the prototype is demonstrated, we are confident to scale up to pilot-scale levels with interested industrial partners. Thus, the potential of indigenous PHD technology must be well examined. [1] R. ltd, Markets, India Polypropylene Market Analysis: Plant Capacity, Production, Operating Efficiency, Process, Demand & Supply, Grade, Application, End Use, Distribution Channel, Region, Competition, Trade, Customer & Price Intelligence Market Analysis, 2015-2030. [2] IOC lets contract for new unit at Barauni refinery, Oil & Gas Journal, (2021).