News | April 11, 2011

Merichem To Install LO-CAT® H2S Treatment System For Treating Natural Gas Feed Stream In New Grassroots 'DRI' Facility

Source: Merichem Company -- Merichem Gas Technologies

Flexible, cost-effective hydrogen-sulfide removal solution scheduled for 4Q 2012 startup; LO-CAT offers low capital costs, lowest operating costs in industry

Merichem Company, a global leader in hydrocarbon-treating technology, chemical and byproduct-management solutions, has entered into a licensing and equipment-supply agreement with a leading supplier of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) facilities to install a LO-CAT® hydrogen sulfide treatment system at a new grassroots facility in the Mideast.

The 1.43 metric ton/day LO-CAT unit, provided through the Merichem Gas Technologies business unit, will be integrated into the overall DRI processing facility, with a proposed start-up date during the fourth quarter of 2012. The LO-CAT unit will be treating 70,000 Nm3/hr of natural gas with a H2S removal efficiency of 99.9%, far exceeding current environmental standards. This will be the seventh LO-CAT unit to be installed in a DRI facility worldwide.

"Merichem has refined its LO-CAT technologies for optimal H2S removal in the direct reduced iron application," said Patrick Hickey, Merichem's president. "This installation is part of a broader initiative to introduce a suite of new and advanced technologies, products and services aimed at making hydrocarbon processing more effective at lower costs."

LO-CAT offers the most flexible H2S removal process available that directly converts H2S to elemental sulfur. LO-CAT maintains the same H2S outlet — regardless of changes in sulfur capacity, gas flow and H2S load — without adjustment to the system. LO-CAT also offers lower capital costs and the lowest operating costs in the industry, with more than 200 licenses in 29 countries on 6 continents.

In addition to acid and sulfur removal technologies, Merichem is the industry leader in managing the beneficial reuse of refining caustic streams and naphthenic acid. Merichem chemical offerings include oxidation catalysts and soda chemicals.

More information is available on Merichem's updated website, www.merichem.com.

Merichem Company provides a diversified portfolio of technologies, products and services to a broad range of operations, including the refining and petrochemicals industry. With more than 1,000 licensed process units worldwide, Merichem is a leader in licensing patented process technologies and proprietary equipment to provide hydrocarbon treating solutions and by-product management services that remove sulfur and other impurities from hydrocarbon liquids and gases in the upstream and downstream energy sectors. Merichem began 65 years ago as a domestic operator in the United States and today offers products and services to customers worldwide. The company is headquartered in Houston, with offices in Chicago, Alabama, Tokyo and Shanghai.

For more information, visit www.merichem.com.

SOURCE: Merichem Company -- Merichem Gas Technologies