Brazilian Petrochemical Industry Research Articles

Long-Range Investment Assessment in a Petrochemical Industry: Cost and Safety Considerations

The aim of this study is to present a mixed-integer multi-objective optimization model to indicate investment in new petrochemical units over a given period, so that the total cost of a petrochemical industry and a risk function are the functions to be minimized. The Brazilian petrochemical industry is used as a case study to illustrate the application of the multi-objective optimization model. It is noticeable that fifteen polymerization processes, as Nylon 6 and polyether polyol, are selected for investment in new process units in all scenarios. Also, model solutions suggest that some petrochemicals, such as p-xylene, should be produced by two different chemical processes, so that a trade-off between cost and risk is maintained. In general, results indicated that the model can be used to support the decision-making process in assessing investment in new petrochemical plants, in order to reduce the risk and the total cost of the petrochemical industry.

Partnerships for the production of patents through the CT-Petro sector fund

This paper seeks to investigate whether Brazilian public policies to encourage public-private partnerships for patent development through the CT-Petro Sector Fund were effective. This fund was created with the objective of developing the Brazilian petrochemical industry after the breach of the Petrobras monopoly in the late 1990s. Until that time, this state company developed all research in this sector. The structure of this article begins with the bibliographic survey of the agents involved in this production chain and how they organized to maintain the productive level of R&D. Finding out about the transfer of funds through FINEP public notices, researchers and companies were attracted and encouraged to create products and services. Whether competition between companies has resulted in improvements to the development of patents for the industry in question. Aiming to demonstrate the interest of the state in transferring its former predominant role to agents Companies and Universities (and/or Research Centers).

Understanding the behavior of an effluent generation indicator throughout uncertainty analysis

This paper addresses the impact of uncertainty evaluation on the analysis of an environmental performance indicator for the process industry. As an industrial case study, the analysis concerns an indicator of the effluent generation of a Brazilian petrochemical industry. The uncertainty evaluation results from the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and its Supplement 1 (GUM-S1) revealed that the current company target to reduce the effluent generation indicator by 5% is unfeasible. This is because the worst-case uncertainty scenario of the indicator has a value of 5.4%. The analysis also demonstrated that the effluent flow rate is the major source of uncertainty in the indicator, and the uncertainty associated with the measurement apparatus (Parshall flume) is the most meaningful factor with respect to this uncertainty. Before establishing any target reduction concerning this indicator, the measurement system of the effluent flow rate should be improved.

Characterization of aqueous streams in a petrochemical industry: A study for the reuse of industrial effluents

The scarcity of water is an increasingly alarming issue all over the world, and each sector of society must take action to reduce water use in its activities. In chemical and petrochemical industries, water is a fundamental resource for the production process. This industrial sector has a demand for great quantities of water with specified qualities for each process. As the water runs through the industrial processes, it incorporates several substances and its characteristics modify. It becomes an effluent that must be treated so as to accommodate the emission standards established in the regulations. In most cases, the standards for disposal are less restrictive than the quality standards for industrial reuse of this effluent. If it is not considered for reuse, all related activities will be compromised. This work presents a case study of a Brazilian petrochemical industry where various aqueous streams were characterized to evaluate the quality requirements necessary for water reuse in the production process. The work examines water use and the quality of each aqueous stream, characterizing them with respect to alkalinity, chlorides, electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, total hardness, iron, pH, silica, total solids, sulfates, and turbidity. The study demonstrates that the cooling water stream has elevated concentrations for these parameters and thus demands less quality for water reuse. In general, demineralized water presents the lowest concentrations for the parameters under evaluation and therefore requires greater quality for water reuse.

LONG-RANGE PLANNING FOR THE BRAZILIAN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY USING MIXED-INTEGER PROGRAMMING

A mixed-integer multiperiod model is used to propose a long-range planning for the Brazilian petrochemical industry. The specific aims of this work are to present a model to select the petrochemical processes capable of increasing over the next 20 years and carry out a sensitivity analysis of this selection if there are changes in demands for products or in the purchase prices of chemicals. The optimization model seeks to minimize the cost and the constraints related to demand, supply, and plant capacities in the petrochemical industry. The long-range planning was suggested for six scenarios, which differ according to the investment constraints, demands for products, and chemicals purchase prices imposed. Among the 295 processes considered, 26 were selected for investment in new process units through the optimization procedure in all scenarios, such as the processes for the production of polyurethane and acrylic fibers. These results are consistent with previous studies of investment assessment of the Brazilian petrochemical industry.

Water and wastewater minimization in a petrochemical industry through mathematical programming

Petrochemical industries have large water demands in their operations, such as distillation, extraction, washing processes and cooling systems. The present work discusses water and wastewater minimization in the production process of a Brazilian petrochemical industry, applying mass integration via mathematical programming. This research is a case study applied in industrial scale, using data from a petrochemical plant. Alternatives for water reuse were evaluated by analyzing water consumption and wastewater generation processes by using a superstructure and a nonlinear mathematical programming model. The concentration of chemical oxygen demand in effluents was considered as a limiting factor. The alternatives found in this study could lead to total economy of 280,320 m3/y of water, and 236,520 m3/y of wastewater that would no longer be generated. This volume would sufficiently supply 4626 inhabitants for one year, considering the average water consumption per capita in Brazil, which is of 166 L per capita per day. Using this process, potential benefits could be achieved with water reuse.

Thermal engineering method application for hazardous spent petrochemical catalyst neutralization

The production of catalysts by the company FCC SA for the Brazilian petrochemical industry is 25,000tons per annum, which after going through the cracking process cannot undergo regeneration any longer, being wasted with high contents of heavy metals and humidity near 70%. To increase the environmental efficiency of the rejected catalyst without preliminary drying and use of strong chemical binding for heavy metals, it was developed a method by using the main raw material composites with kaolin clay, wood ash and glass waste for the production of regular ceramics. The mixtures of these components were sintered at temperatures of 1000°C, 1100°C, 1200°C, 1250°C and 1300°C. The ceramics with 30wt.% of spent catalyst sintered at 1250°C have flexion resistance of 12.9MPa. After sintering process, the mixtures were analyzed by XRD, SEM, EDS and LAMMA methods been observed synthesizing of mainly amorphous vitreous materials with inclusion of new minerals mullite 2Al2O3·3SiO2 and graphite C.

The energy revolution in the USA and the pre-salt reserves in Brazil: Risks and opportunities for the Brazilian petrochemical industry

The petrochemical industry is known for its interrelations with the oil industry. In recent years the world has witnessed the rapid growth of the Chinese economy and an associated surge in demand for petroleum and oil products, alongside the emergence of alternative sources of oil and natural gas to those produced by OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and Russia, such as Brazil’s pre-salt reserves and shale gas in the United States. The US is undergoing a veritable energy revolution with its use of unconventional oil and natural gas production techniques in low-permeability reservoirs, chiefly shale gas. Brazil’s prospects as an international player are on the rise thanks to the exploration of oil and natural gas from its pre-salt reserves, which could lead to exports of petroleum of over 2 million barrels/day. All these movements have a direct influence on the petrochemical industry. This article aims to foster discussions about the risks and opportunities facing the Brazilian petrochemical industry with the exploration of oil and natural gas in Brazil and unconventional sources in the United States. Systemic thinking and scenario-based planning were used as the basis for the analysis.

Scale-up of electrochemical oxidation system for treatment of produced water generated by Brazilian petrochemical industry

Scale-up of anodic oxidation system is critical to the practical application of electrochemical treatment in bio-refractory organic wastewater treatment. In this study, the scale-up of electrochemical flow system was investigated by treating petrochemical wastewater using platinized titanium (Ti/Pt) and boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes. It was demonstrated that flow cell was successfully scaled-up because when it was compared with batch mode (Rocha et al. 2012b), higher performances on organic matter removal were achieved. Under the suitable operating conditions and better anode material, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of petrochemical wastewater was reduced from 2,746 to 200 mg L(-1) within 5 h with an energy consumption of only 56.2 kWh m(-3) in the scaled-up BDD anode system. These results demonstrate that anode flow system is very promising in practical bio-refractory organic wastewater treatment.

Tax-related aspects of logistics network planning: a case study in the Brazilian petrochemical industry

This study investigates the logistics network planning in a major Brazilian petrochemical company, taking into consideration the impact of tax-related costs, in addition to transportation and inventory costs. A Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming model that considers the most relevant costs involved in the network planning process in Brazil was developed and subsequently applied to a case study of a large Brazilian petrochemical company. Our results support anecdotal reports regarding Brazilian companies intensely using ‘product tourism’ to take advantage of different interstate tax rates. Product tourism occurs when a logistically unnecessary flow of goods is established to a lower tax jurisdiction (with a corresponding increase in transportation costs) so that the company obtains a reduction in the amount of the taxes due.

Contribuição aos critérios de projeto organizacional para inovação na indústria petroquímica brasileira

A Indústria Petroquímica, incluindo-se aí a brasileira, é um setor consolidado, maduro, acostumado a inovar incrementalmente em produtos e processos. De outro lado, para manter e ampliar sua competitividade, tem a necessidade de inovar mais radicalmente. A literatura disponível recomenda que empresas que necessitem inovar, simultaneamente, de forma incremental e radical, deveriam adotar uma "Organização Ambidestra" (ou "Semiestrutura"), utilizando processos, ferramentas de gestão e estruturas adequadas para cada caso. Mas como exatamente deveria ser essa organização ambidestra? Este trabalho objetiva contribuir com esta discussão, propondo critérios para o Projeto Organizacional adequado ao desenvolvimento de inovações incrementais e radicais de forma sistemática em empresas consolidadas de setores maduros. Parte-se do princípio de que não haveria um modelo único a ser prescrito neste caso. O método de pesquisa utilizado foi o estudo de múltiplos casos em três empresas inovadoras do setor, em que onze projetos de inovação foram analisados. Os resultados obtidos indicam que, ainda que haja nas empresas a preocupação de divisão de estruturas para o desenvolvimento de inovações radicais e incrementais, na prática, a forma pela qual os projetos são conduzidos não mostra diferença significativa. O modelo proposto oferece um conjunto de diretrizes e critérios para que cada empresa adapte suas estruturas e processos a diferentes desafios encontrados nos projetos de inovação, em cada etapa de seu desenvolvimento.

Application of electrochemical oxidation as alternative treatment of produced water generated by Brazilian petrochemical industry

This paper presents the anodic oxidation of real produced water, generated by petroleum exploration of the Petrobras plant-Brazil, using platinum supported on Ti (Ti/Pt) and boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes in an electrolytic batch cell. The influence of several operating parameters such as current, supporting electrolyte, agitation rate and temperature on the performance has been studied and the energy consumption has been also evaluated. Galvanostatic electrolysis at BDD leads to complete COD removal (98%) due to the high amounts of effective hydroxyl radicals and peroxodisulfates generated from water oxidation and the COD removal rate increases with rising applied current (from 15 to 60mAcm−2). Conversely, at Pt electrode, about 50% of COD removals were achieved by applying 15 and 30mAcm−2 of current density, and 80% of COD removal at 60mAcm−2. Although, the energy consumption and process time make useless anodic oxidation for complete treatment of petrochemical wastewaters; maybe, it can be a feasible process as a pre-treatment process reducing significantly the cost and time of treatment.

BRASKEM’S PUSH

RETURN TO ISSUEPREVNewsNEXTBRASKEM’S PUSHHaving consolidated the Brazilian petrochemical industry, firm looks to expand in LATIN AMERICA AND THE U.S.ALEXANDER H. TULLOView Author Information C&EN NORTHEAST NEWS BUREAUCite this: Chem. Eng. News 2011, 89, 20, 24Publication Date (Print):May 16, 2011Publication History Published online9 March 2012Published inissue 16 May 2011https://doi.org/10.1021/cen-v089n020.p024Copyright © 2011 AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETYArticle Views19Altmetric-Citations2LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (736 KB) SUBJECTS:Hydrocarbons,Order,Petrochemical industry,Petrochemicals,Polyethylene Get e-Alerts

A contribution to the criteria for organizational design for innovation in consolidated companies from mature sectors: the case of Brazilian petrochemical industry

A contribution to the criteria for organizational design for innovation in consolidated companies from mature sectors: the case of Brazilian petrochemical industry

A safety culture maturity model for petrochemical companies in Brazil

A framework to measure safety culture maturity in the Brazilian oil and gas companies was formulated based on the model of Hudson (2001). Following a review of the safety culture literature, a questionnaire was designed to measure five aspects of organisational safety indicative of five levels of cultural maturity. The questionnaire was completed by the safety managers of 23 petrochemical companies based in Camacari, Bahia, Brazil and they were interviewed one month later. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested by asking the same questions in an interview and comparing the results (alternate forms reliability). The correlation coefficients between the questionnaire and interview scores on each dimension ranged from r = 0.7 to 0.9, demonstrating good reliability of the measures used. The research findings demonstrated that the 23 companies studied showed characteristics of different levels of safety culture maturity. Most scores were at the level of proactive. The model of Hudson (2001) and the revised framework and questionnaire were found to be practical to use, making it possible to identify levels of safety culture maturity in the context of the Brazilian petrochemical industry.

Competências para Inovar na Indústria Petroquímica Brasileira

Este trabalho analisa a capacidade inovadora da indústria petroquímica brasileira com base na noção de competências para inovar. Partindo da visão da firma baseada em recursos (VBR), as competências para inovar são examinadas por meio de um questionário que procura identificar e avaliar o nível de desenvolvimento das competências da indústria em questão. Os resultados são analisados considerando-se as competências em quatro grupos: técnicas, organizacionais, relacionais e de meios. Os resultados indicam que a indústria detém níveis aceitáveis de competências em termos técnicos, mas nos demais grupos as competências existentes não parecem ser suficientes para que as empresas, e conseqüentemente o setor industrial que elas representam, possam ser consideradas inovadoras. As deficiências parecem ser particularmente acentuadas no grupo das competências organizacionais.

New Typology for the Strategic/Technological Positioning of Firms in Developing Countries

ABSTRACT This work proposes a new typology for the strategic/technological positioning of firms. Based on evolutionary aspects, it is particularly suitable as a tool for identifying the technological stage of firms/industries in developing countries. The typology is utilized to identify the present stage of technological development in the Brazilian petrochemical industry. In a sample of petrochemical companies in Brazil, eight companies consider themselves to be reactive followers and eleven consider that their purpose should be to become proactive. All acknowledge the difficulties of becoming pioneers (lack of scale of the companies) and understand that being proactive would allow them to compete on an equal footing with international companies and earn a position of leadership within the industry. Other conclusions are derived from the study. The result is believed to be applicable for other developing countries experiencing the same circumstances. RESUMEN. Este trabajo propone una nueva topología para el posicionamiento estratégico/tecnológico de las empresas. En base a diversos aspectos evolutivos, se considera especialmente adecuada como una herramienta para identificar la etapa tecnológica de las empresas/industrias en los países en desarrollo. La topología se utiliza para identificar el estado actual del desarrollo tecnológico en la industria petroquímica brasileña. En una muestra de las compañías petroquímicas brasileñas, ocho de ellas se consideran seguidoras reactivas y once opinan que su propósito debería ser de convertirse en empresas proactivas. Todas ellas reconocen las dificultades inherentes en convertirse en empresas pioneras (falta de escala de las empresas), y entienden que si fuesen proactivas podrían competir en igualdad de condiciones con las empresas internacionales y ganar una posición de liderazgo dentro de la industria. También trazamos otras conclusiones de este estudio. Consideramos que el resultado puede aplicarse a los países en desarrollo que están atravesando las mismas circunstancias. RESUMO. Este estudo sugere uma nova tipologia para o posicion-amento estratégico/tecnológico das empresas. Baseado nos aspectos evolutivos, tal posicionamento é especialmente adequado como ferramenta de identificação do estágio tecnológico das empresas/indústrias nos países em desenvolvimento. A tipologia é utilizada para identificar o estágio atual de desenvolvimento tecnológico da indústria petroquímica brasileira. Na amostragem realizada em empresas petroquímicas do Brasil, oito consideram-se seguidoras da linha reativa e onze almejam tornar-se proativas. Todas reconhecem as dificuldades de serem pioneiras (falta de escala de produção) e entendem que sendo proativas poderão competir, em pé de igualdade, com companhias internacionais e conquistar uma posição de liderança no setor industrial. O estudo contém outras conclusões. O resultado deverá ser aplicável em outros países em desenvolvimento, passando pela mesma experiência.

ORDER AND PROGRESS

BRAZIL'S PRESIDENT, LUIZ INACIO Lula da Silva, was scheduled to speak at the Asociacion Petroquimica y Quimica Latinoamericana (APLA) annual meeting on Nov. 9 in Rio de Janeiro. Though it may seem unusual for a president of a country as large as Brazil to attend such an event, da Silva has been reaching out to industrialists to calm fears that his left-wing past means trouble for them. In the end, he was hung up on a visit to Africa and didn't show. However, whatever disappointment the attendees felt was overwhelmed by their exuberance with the Brazilian petrochemical industry's recent good performance and their optimism for the future. Good times are coming back again, said Eduardo E. Gouvea Vieira, president of APLA and head of Brazil's Ipiranga Quimica. This industry has been suffering for many years. We can soon reap the benefits of all the sacrifices that we have been making. Attendees ...

O Processo de Aquisição de Tecnologia pela Indústria Petroquímica Brasileira

Um dos setores industriais brasileiros mais dinâmicos, a indústria petroquímica, está localizada em três pólos (Camaçari, São Paulo e Triunfo) e hoje representa cerca de 2% do PIB do país. O estabelecimento dessa indústria no Brasil ocorreu há menos de 30 anos, por iniciativa governamental, através da adoção de um modelo societário de empresa chamado modelo tripartite. Neste modelo 1/3 do capital era proveniente da Petroquisa, 1/3 de sócio privado nacional e 1/3 de sócio estrangeiro, geralmente fornecedor da tecnologia, que era explorada pela formação de joint-ventures. Apesar de já ser uma indústria consolidada e de grande potencial de exportação, a petroquímica ainda é bastante dependente tecnologicamente de fontes exógenas e essa dependência não parece que será eliminada a curto prazo. O presente trabalho examina o processo de aquisição tecnológica por parte da indústria petroquímica brasileira, dando ênfase ao uso de joint-ventures como a forma escolhida para obtenção da tecnologia.

Ergonomics in the Execution Stage of the Work: What Can Be Done between Design and Use of the Work Environment?

The participation in the project of the work environment in the Integrated Control Center (ICC) of a brazilian petrochemical industry leads us to discuss the reconception that takes place during the construction stage and the role of an ergonomics team in this stage of the projet process.