Petrobras And Braskem Complete Tests On Chemical Product With Renewable Content

Initiative reinforces companies' commitment to developing raw materials for chemical products and plastic resins, offering low-carbon solutions

Petrobras has successfully completed a series of industrial-scale tests to produce a stream of Light Refinery Hydrocarbons (LHR) rich in ethylene with renewable content. The project, in partnership with Braskem, has developed, over the past twelve months, a potential renewable raw material for the chemical industry.

The raw material used in the tests was ethanol, obtained from sugarcane, co-processed in Recap's Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (URFCC), generating LHR with renewable content, which will contribute to reducing carbon intensity, compared to the product of 100% mineral origin.

The positive results were obtained at the Capuava Refinery (Recap), in Mauá (SP). Within the scope of the agreement, signed between the two companies, the objective is to identify technological solutions to increase the sustainability of their portfolios, with a focus on the areas of circular economy and renewable raw materials.

The successful production of HLR with renewable content opens up new business opportunities and strengthens Petrobras’ position in the search for sustainable solutions. The company is preparing its refineries to meet the growing demand for low-carbon fuels and chemicals, aligning with market expectations and contributing to a greener future.

The initiative is part of Petrobras’ BioRefining Program, which foresees the development of more sustainable and efficient fuels and products, with lower greenhouse gas emissions. Petrobras’ Director of Industrial Processes and Products, William França, explains that the test is in line with the company’s vision of creating a refining park adapted to a low-carbon economy. “Petrobras is preparing its refineries to take on a relevant role towards the energy transition, with investments in energy consumption efficiency and in reducing the carbon footprint of operations and products,” he says.

Tests proved operational feasibility of HLR production with renewable content
Using technology developed by Petrobras' Research, Development and Innovation Center (Cenpes), the technical feasibility of co-processing ethanol on an industrial scale was demonstrated at the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (URFCC), without altering the refinery's other products.

The test product was sent to Braskem and the hydrocarbon with renewable content was successfully processed at the Santo André (SP) industrial unit. These initiatives are in accordance with the Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) clauses of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).

For Petrobras’ Director of Logistics, Sales and Markets, Claudio Schlosser, “the initiative is in line with the company’s goal of developing a portfolio of more sustainable products, expanding its commercial operations to the energy transition environment.” According to Petrobras’ Director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation, Renata Baruzzi, “the studies conducted at Cenpes contribute to the creation of the refineries of the future. We will have an industrial park capable of receiving both petroleum and vegetable oil or ethanol, to produce fossil or renewable fuel,” he emphasizes.

Antonio Queiroz, Braskem’s Vice President of Innovation, Technology and Sustainable Development, explains that the partnership with Petrobras is another step forward in the commitment to implement a carbon-neutral circular economy: “The search for raw materials from renewable sources plays a fundamental role in building a more sustainable future and has been an important goal of Braskem.”