Honeywell's UOP announced Tuesday that two Chinese petrochemical producers have selected UOP process technologies to help meet growing demand for high-value petrochemicals in China.

Shandong Huachao Chemical Co. will use the UOP C4 Oleflex process to produce isobutylene, a key ingredient for fuels and synthetic rubber. 

In addition, Zibo Qixiang Tengda Chemical Co. will use the UOP Butamer process to transform normal butane to isobutane and UOP's C3/C4 Oleflex process to convert isobutane to isobutylene and propane to propylene for the production of plastics.  

Both companies are located in Shandong Province on China's East Coast.

The Oleflex projects represent UOP's 16th and 17th announced licenses for the Oleflextechnology since the beginning of 2011, as demand for propylene and isobutylene grows in the region. 

The Shandong Huachao project will be the sixth C4 Oleflex unit in China, and the Zibo Qixiang Tengda project is the third combined C3/C4 Oleflex license UOP has been awarded.

"China has rapidly emerged as one of the largest petrochemical producers in Asia," said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president and general manager of UOP's process technology and equipment business. 

"In the last three years, UOP has licensed technology to produce more than 8 million metric tons of these key petrochemicals globally, including more than 5.4 million metric tons in China, and we look forward to continuing to provide efficient, cost-effective technology solutions to support the world's increasing demand," he added.

The new units are expected to start up in 2016.  

The Shandong Huachao facility will process 200,000 metric tons of isobutane. and the Zibo Qixiang Tengda facility will process 400,000 metric tons of propane and butane feedstocks. 

In addition to the technology licensing, UOP will provide the engineering design, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, staff training and technical service for both projects.