Flexiforming® Technology

One Catalyst. Many Feeds. Choice of Products.

Flexiforming is a zeolite-based catalytic process that converts naphtha, light olefins, alcohols, ethers, or their blends into high-octane gasoline, kerosene, or BTX aromatics. Operator-adjustable process lets you shift feed and product slate to match market conditions.

Feedstock

Unparalleled Feedstock Flexibility

Feed virtually any alcohol or ether, renewable or fossil naphtha, LPG, or light olefins. 6,000+ hours tested on 50+ feedstocks. Pick the cheapest combination available.

Catalyst

Proprietary HZSM-5 Catalyst

Modified zeolite provides high-temperature stability, steam resistance, and 3–5 year lifetime. Protected by 33 patents across 12 countries.

Product

Adjustable Product Slate

Regulate temperature, pressure, and space velocity to shift output between gasoline, kerosene (SAF), and BTX in response to market conditions.

Key Reactions

Flexiforming Chemistry

Endo / Exothermic
      Dehydration of Alcohol
      
      → Light olefins + steam that extends catalyst life
    
▸Light olefins formed during dehydration are consumed in subsequent reactions. The water generated turns to steam, which inhibits formation of coke on the catalyst, extending cycle length. Endothermic with ethanol, exothermic with methanol.
Exothermic
      Aromatization of Olefins
      
      → High-octane gasoline components + hydrogen
    
▸Produces the gasoline components with the highest octane rating. Also releases hydrogen that can hydrogenate sulfur in the feed into H₂S, shifting sulfur from gasoline to LPG and fuel gas. This allows processing feeds with up to 1,000 ppm sulfur without prior hydrotreatment.
Exothermic
      Alkylation of Aromatics
      
      → Converts benzene into toluene, xylene 
    
▸When alcohol is dehydrated, extremely active radicals are formed. These radicals join aromatic molecules, alkylating benzene into toluene and xylene and other alkylbenzenes while inhibiting formation of fused-ring aromatics.
Endothermic
      Aromatization of Paraffins
      
      → Upgrades feeds that reforming cannot handle
    
▸Converts low-octane n-paraffins into high-octane aromatics plus hydrogen. This reaction pathway allows Flexiforming to process feeds beyond the reach of catalytic reforming, like raffinate from aromatics' extraction, HEFA and GTL naphthas, and similar.
Exothermic
      Isomerization of Paraffins
      
      → Higher-octane isoparaffins from normal paraffins
    
▸Creates branched isoparaffins from straight-chain normal paraffins, raising the octane rating of the non-aromatic portion of the product.