Preparing Saudi Rhodes Scholars

DEVELOPING CLEANER FUEL-REFINING PROCESSES FOR INDUSTRY

KAUST spinout uODS partners with Aramco-owned Luberef to reduce sulfur content in maritime fuels

KAUST spinout uODS is partnering with Aramco-owned company Luberef to scale up a new technology to remove harmful sulfur from hydrocarbons. In April 2022, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed with Luberef to support uODS in developing and deploying the technology, which grew out of the KAUST Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC). The project is set to help Saudi Arabia reduce emissions from the maritime transport segment.

Luberef is a regional leader in the production of lubricant base oils. It operates re neries in Jeddah and Yanbu that produce around 1.2 million tons of base oils annually. uODS was formed by a team of researchers from the CCRC to commercialize a KAUST-developed desulfurization technology that brings both environmental and economic bene ts. Rather than removing sulfur from exhaust, the uODS technology removes sulfur directly from fuel – a much more cost-effective and scalable method. Conventional methods use large quantities of hydrogen in a very-high-pressure, high-temperature environment to produce a sulfur extraction reaction, which is only feasible in a re nery.uODS’ novel process, however, can be achieved at room temperature and room pressure without the need for hydrogen. This means the process can be conducted outside a re nery, even at a bunkering facility. The uODS process is ideally suited for heavy fuel oils, marine fuels and base oils, rather than lighter oils like diesel or jet gasoline.

The impetus for the project was born when the Ministry of Energy approached KAUST to inquire about any ongoing research that could help the Kingdom meet new emissions requirements introduced by theInternational Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020. The new regulations, known as IMO 2020, establish limits on sulfur content in fuel oil used to power merchant ships. Among the ve key bene ts of reducing sulfur oxide emissions from ships, as highlighted by IMO 2020, are: cleaner air, positive impacts on human health and the introduction of higher-quality fuels.

The uODS process is built on basic research in sonochemistry pioneered at the CCRC. The uODS process core is in the ultrasonically induced cavitation. Sound waves propagate into the liquid, creating microscopic cavitation bubbles that eventually collapse, leading to high mixing and hot spots. ”We realized that uid dynamics was the key to creating a commercially viable process. Modeling the entire process, from a single bubble to the whole reactor, enabled accurate control over the process and improved yield,” said Paolo Guida, Chief Technology Of cer at uODS.

The MoU will help Luberef reduce its daily environmental footprint of burning 270 tons of high-sulfur heavy fuel oil at its re neries in Jeddah. The resulting emissions contain large quantities ofsulfur oxides, which contribute to acid rain, nitrogen oxide andexhaust particulate matter.

The KAUST startup will install its own rig on-site and start by test-producing 10 tons per day of desulfurized fuel as part of the agreement. “They’ll run it through their boilers and we’ll be able to measure emissions after stack, showing a reduction of harmful emissions by a factor of seven or more,” said William Roberts, President of uODS and Director of the CCRC. The goal is to scale up from there and provide Luberef with the volume of 270 tons that it requires on a daily basis. environmental excellence and ensure that oil has a more sustainable future,” said Mark Brown, CEO of uODS. There is also a strong business case for Luberef to partner withuODS to make its process more sustainable. The Aramco subsidiary produces a wide range of base oils used for lubricants. By removing the sulfur content, the value of its product increases.

Full decarbonization of the marine transport segment will be extremely challenging to achieve in the short to medium term. Like aviation, shipping is considered one of the hard-to-decarbonize industries where net-zero solutions such as biofuel-, ammonia- and hydrogen-fueled ships are expected to be rolled out at scale in the longer term. The International Energy Agency estimates that under a rapid transition scenario of net zero by 2050, it would be possible for these three technologies to fuel 85% of maritime shipping’s energy needs. In the meantime, while the industry continues to rely on existing technology over the next few decades, uODS provides a viable transitional technology to help curb emissions in marine transport.

LUBEREF

“We believe this technology has the potential to become pivotal in developing a more sustainable future for the oil industry, and the fact that it is being developed at KAUST gives us pride to be the first site to pilot the technology.”

Tareq AlNuaim, President and CEO of Luberef WILLIAM ROBERTS Director of the Clean Combustion Research Center and President of uODS

THIS SPINOUT AND THE RESULTING MoU WITH LUBEREF IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF TRANSLATING THE FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH DONE IN OUR LABS WITH A TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATORS INTO A SCALABLE AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE PROCESS TO MEET A CRITICAL REAL-WORLD NEED.