Title: Propylene Optimization in a Refinery + Petrochemical Complex Authors: Lidia Barreto1; Suzana Tintner2; Joao Claudio Pozes Nunes3

PETROBRAS S.A. Downstream Department Abstract The modern refining and petrochemical complex is evolving towards a single integrated facility to optimize total processing economics for converting crude petroleum to usable industrial products. In the forefront of this trend is the integration of unsaturates production and consumption units. Proper integration of refinery-olefin plant-polymer plant complex requires careful consideration of issues on a variety of levels. A prime area for attaining attractive returns in the integrating process is in propylene production and use. Main propylene producers include the fluid catalytic cracking unit and a petrochemical plant steam cracker. Major consumers include polypropylene units, propylene oxide units, refinery conversion units and others, like cumene/phenol and acrylic acid units. PETROBRAS refineries can potentially supply the Brazilian propylene market with 1.100.000 tons of polymer grade propylene per year, most of it produced through catalytic cracking units, while Brazilian steam cracker plants can offer 1.400.000 tons of propylene per year to the market. The propylenes alternative value as feedstock for gasoline blending components is the key factor in determining price. The most important alternative uses for propylene are in the LPG pool and in alkylation with isobutane to produce gasoline alkylate. This paper will show how PETROBRAS is approaching the challenge of adding value to its propylene production as a petrochemical business.

PETROBRAS S.A. Downstream Department Petrochemistry Petrochemical Projects (contact phone number: 55.21.25341948, e-mail address: lidiabarreto@petrobras.com.br) 2 PETROBRAS S.A. Downstream Department Petrochemistry Market and Technology 3 PETROBRAS S.A. Downstream Department Refining New Projects and Products