Jeff Bray (UOP)

Low-cost hydrogen shifts the focus of the hydrogen addition processes (hydrotreating and Hydrocracking) from hydrogen efficiency to maximum uptake and volume expansion. Once hydrogen becomes cheaper than the crude-based materials being processed any additional hydrogen uptake makes money. This in concert with good diesel margins has improved the economics for adding hydrocracking catalysts to gas oil hydrotreaters as well as making hydrogen intensive processes like diesel aromatics saturation more attractive.