One of the strategic objectives at CEPSA is to apply the results of research in manufacturing processes and in the development of new products.
The research centre at CEPSA, located in the industrial estate of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), has a surface area of 12.000 m² and over fifty professionals working in R&D. Using the most modern analytic equipment, this centre develops its own technology. In addition it assists the manufacturing and marketing divisions.
Since it was inaugurated in 1975 in San Fernando de Henares, and later moving to mayor facilities in Alcalá de Henares, the research centre at CEPSA has been intensely active in such areas as molecular biology, biochemistry, polymer derivatives, fine chemistry, refining, and petrochemistry. Since 1986 the research centre has backed and rendered technical assistance to processes and products in the areas of refining and petrochemistry, with special attention to environmental issues.
The Research Center led a project to extract biodiesel and other products of added value from microalgae culture. Successful research projects have also been concluded enabling existing resources to use both vegetable oils and fossil products in hydrogenation processes to obtain diesel fuels with bio content.
Activities
Since 1986 the research centre has backed and rendered technical assistance to processes and products in the areas of refining and petrochemistry, with special attention to environmental issues.
Refining
The research centre does diverse work in the area of refining:
1. Assessment and selection of catalysts in units such as:
- FCC (catalytic cracking).
- Reforming of naphthas.
- Hydrotreatment.
- Naphtha isomerization.
- Optimization of liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
Having considerable knowledge of catalyst technology, the research centre has developed its own naphtha isomerization catalyst, which is being marketed by the CKS consortium. This consortium comprises CEPSA, Kellogg Brown & Root, and Sud-Chemie. The catalyst is used by Shell, Statoil, Texaco, TotalFinaElf, and MOL, among others.
2. Lubricants
The research centre is annually analysing more than 25,000 samples of used oil to assess the state of clients' equipment and draw up a preventive maintenance programme. Another of the objectives is to develop lubricants of higher quality.
Petrochemistry
The Research Centre has incorporated all the research projects and activities formerly carried out by CEPSA Química into its activities. These include major projects such as the development of technology to produce more PIA (purified isophthalic acid).
Other activities
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Organization of laboratories and analytic procedures
Adjustment of analytic techniques to meet the needs of the various units in CEPSA and to assess the equipment and procedures of general application.
- Outside collaboration
- Technical assistance since 1996 to TotalFinaElf in oil refining.
- With members of the CKS Consortium, collaboration in selling the naphtha isomerization catalyst to other refining firms.
- Collaboration on European projects with various firms and research groups.
Material resources
Refining area:
- Pilot plant FCC: DCR.
- Various pilot plants with automated CSTR and fixed-bed reactors.
Petrochemistry area:
Pilot plants with oxidation reactors, hydrogenation reactors, alkylation reactors, dehydrogenation reactors, etc.
Analytic backup:
- Spectrometry: FTIR, UV, VIS, AA, XRF, ICP.
- Chromatography: GC, HPLC, IC, IATROSCAN, SFC.
- Hybrid systems: GC/MS, HPLC/MS, GC/AED, GC/IR.
- Catalyst classification: TG, DSC, TPR/TPO, SBET.
The new Exploration & Production centre is now fully operational with projects geared towards improving production, which will be tested in production wells throughout 2011.
