CVR evaluating Ecofining technology for Coffeyville, Kansas, conversion project

Honeywell announced Dec. 8 that a CVR Energy Inc. subsidiary has selected Honeywell UOP Ecofining™ technology to study processing seed oils, tallow, and white and yellow greases into renewable diesel fuel at its facility in Coffeyville, Kansas. CVR Energy is currently evaluating the conversion of an existing hydroprocessing unit at the plant to a single-stage Ecofining system for the production of approximately 11,000 barrels per day (more than 150 million gallons per year) of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

“As we previously announced, CVR Energy is laser focused on the development of its renewable initiatives,” said Dave Lamp, president and CEO of CVR Energy. “Adding Ecofining technology to our Coffeyville refinery could complement the renewable diesel project in process at our Wynnewood refinery. These projects, combined with others under development, could help us decarbonize our operations.”

The new single-stage Ecofining process uses a combination of catalysts in a single-operating environment to remove oxygenates and other contaminants from the feedstock, and then isomerize the feed to improve its cold-flow properties.

“As customers like CVR seek alternative uses for existing units to grow their renewable fuels production to meet sustainability goals, our single-stage Ecofining process provides an ideal, economical solution,” said Ben Owens, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions. “We simplified the design of our Ecofining process to help refiners to meet stricter regulations for renewable fuels production while cutting costs and minimizing space and equipment.”

UOP and Eni SpA jointly developed the Ecofining process, which converts nonedible natural oils and animal fats to renewable diesel fuel. The Ecofining process produces diesel with a cetane value of 80, substantially higher than the 40-to-60 cetane diesel commonly used in diesel engines today. As a result, this higher-cetane diesel fuel can be blended with less expensive, low-cetane diesel to meet transportation fuel standards while providing better engine performance with fewer emissions.

The Ecofining technology is used in most 100 percent biofeed units producing renewable diesel and the only 100 percent production of SAF in the world today. UOP currently has licensed 24 Ecofining units in eleven countries around the world, processing 12 different types of renewable feedstocks.