4th Aromatic Complex (Aromatic-4) - Asaluyeh Petrochemical Complex - Technical Profile
The Fourth Aromatic Complex (Aromatic-4) in Asaluyeh, Iran, is a state-of-the-art petrochemical facility designed to produce benzene, toluene, para-xylene (PX), and ortho-xylene (OX). With an annual capacity of 1.4 million tons of aromatics, it strengthens Iran’s position as a key player in the global petrochemical market.
Project Specification
Key Specifications
✔ Licensed Processes:
- UOP CCR Platforming™(for catalytic reforming)
- Axens PAREX™(for para-xylene separation)
- Sulfolane-based extraction(for benzene & toluene recovery)
✔ Key Production Units:
- Naphtha Hydrotreater (NHT)– Purification of feed
- Continuous Catalytic Reformer (CCR)– Converts naphtha to BTX
- Aromatics Extraction Unit– Isolates benzene & toluene
Xylene Isomerization & Separation – Produces PX (≥99.7% purity)
Project Details
Project Details
Operational Challenges
Catalyst deactivation in reformers & isomerization units
Corrosion in sulfolane extraction systems (requires 316L SS)
Energy-intensive distillation processes
Benzene emission control (meeting EPA/EU standards)
Market & Export Potential
- Supplies 25% of Iran’s domestic PX demand
- Key export markets:China, India, Southeast Asia
- Competitive edge:Low-cost naphtha feedstock
Technical Specifications
✔ Feedstock & Capacity:
- Naphtha intake:2 million t/year
- Benzene output:500,000 t/year
- Toluene output:300,000 t/year
- Para-xylene (PX) output:600,000 t/year
✔ Process Conditions:
- CCR Unit:500–530°C, 5–15 bar
- Xylene Isomerization:400–450°C, 10–20 bar
- PAREX Unit:Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) technology
✔ Utility Consumption:
- Steam:1 t/t aromatics
- Power:50 MW (partially cogenerated)
- Hydrogen:20,000 Nm³/h (from reformers)
Sustainability & Future Expansion
✔ Environmental Compliance:
- Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) wastewater treatment
- VOC recovery systems(≥95% benzene capture)
- Carbon footprint:1 tCO₂/t aromatics
✔ Expansion Plans:
- Debottlenecking to 1.7 million t/year(2026 target)
- Benzene-to-cyclohexane unit(for nylon-6 feedstock)
- Green hydrogen integration study
SEC Scope:
- Design + Material take-off for 36 Units of Storage Tanks 13,200 Tons