Ethylene By Hydrocracking

The Hydropyrolyse process cracks liquid feedstocks to ethylene in the presence of hydrogen and the absence of steam. In this hydrocracking process, as compared with conventional steam cracking, the yield of ethylene and aromatics, particularly benzene, increases, at the expense of butadiene.

SRI's evaluation shows that the hydrocracking process cannot compete against conventional steam cracking. The cost-plus-return advantage of the steam cracking plant can be traced to the credit realized for the sale of butadiene and the remainder of the C4 fraction in the case of steam cracking. The C₄ fraction is recycled to extinction in the Hydropyrolyse process