Iranian Experts Indigenize Technology for Manufacturing Oil Desulfurization Catalysts

Hesam Abbasi, a member of the team, told reporters that the domestically-produced catalysts are being supplied to the country’s refineries, replacing foreign-made products.

He added that the company started its work in 2017 by supplying laboratory equipment. Later on, the company entered the field of producing catalysts, chemicals, and adsorbents.

“This company has succeeded in manufacturing mercaptan removal catalysts,” he said, adding that the catalysts are used in crude oil desulfurization processes, including the Merox process.

The product can replace foreign samples, Abbasi noted.

Mercaptans are the organic components of hydrocarbons with sulfur. If mercaptans are in high concentration in natural gas, these must be removed to reduce the value to an acceptable limit.

So, the removal of sulfur compounds from petroleum hydrocarbons, which is known as the desulfurization process in the oil and gas industry, is an inevitable necessity, and this process is implemented through this catalyst.

The product is currently used in South Pars and Persian Gulf Star refineries, Abbasi said.

Oil Minister Javad Owji has said domestic producers are currently supplying over 70 percent of the oil industry’s needed equipment, adding that this figure can increase to 95 percent.

Currently, a major part of the equipment and parts needed by all sectors (upstream and downstream) are supplied by domestic manufacturers.

4155/g