
The CATADIENE® dehydrogenation process is a reliable, proven route for the production of 1,3 butadiene from n-butane or a mix of n-butane and n-butenes. Lummus Technology has exclusive worldwide licensing rights to this technology. The catalyst is produced by Clariant, a leading company in the development of process catalysts. CATADIENE is the only commercial technology available for on-purpose production of n-butylenes and butadiene from n-butane. Due to its superior thermodynamic operating conditions of vacuum and lower temperature for reactors, CATADIENE provides the highest conversion and selectivity for conversion of n-butane to n-butylenes and butadiene. The CATADIENE process employs multiple reactors operating in a cyclic manner with an automated program so that the flow of process streams is continuous. The CATADIENE unit can be operated to co-produce butylenes and butadiene or to produce only butadiene. There are two CATADIENE plants operating in Russia producing about 270 kta butadiene.