The founder of Teraade Proces, Arjan te Raa, has more than 20 years experience in process improvement and cost reduction in Ethylene Oxide (EO) manufacturing. Some of the improvements have been patented and Arjan is nominated as on of the inventors*). Amongst others he worked on:

1. Economical justification and introduction of high selectivity catalyst.
2. Economical justification and introduction of operation of catalyst at reduced CO2 and water content.
3. Improved operation of catalyst at lower Ethylene cost.On cost reduction

Teraade Proces cooperates with EO manufacturers with the most experienced specialists in EO plants, i.e., those who operate plants with lowest costs. These lowest costs are proven in bench marking studies. Teraade Proces offers support with the selection, economic justification and introduction of the best catalyst and process improvements. Investments in the best catalyst or process improvements are normally recovered in a period from 6 to 24 months.

Teraade Proces offers support to achieve improved operation to reduce Ethylene costs. Normally no investment in equipment or equipment modifications are required for such improvement. Good maintenance of existing equipment, in general, allows improved operation. The costs of this support is normally recovered by the EO manufacturer within a few days once a plant begins improved operation. Teraade Process is able to offer this service with payment for it by the EO manufacturer after the EO manufacturer has recovered the agreed costs of support through the reduced cost of Ethylene. In plants with well skilled specialists, the significant cost reductions normally have already been achieved. Teraade Process assists such specialists to achieve remaining cost savings.

Teraade Proces also offers statistical evaluation of plant measurements to improve accuracy of plant evaluation. The costs of this support normally are recovered by the EO manufacturer within 6 months. As with the previous service, Teraade Process is able to offer its expertise with payment by the EO manufacturer after the EO manufacturer has recovered the agreed costs of support through cost reduction on Ethylene.

The service of improved operation can be expanded far beyond Ethylene cost reduction. Information generated with this service can be used to reduce cost in CO2 removal and EO recovery. The energy costs of the compressor can be reduced and heat recovery can be improved. Maintenance can be controlled for lowest cost at maximum benefit. Heat exchanger cleaning can be based on energy savings.

Additional to reduced costs, increased production can be achieved. This creates profits that easily surpass $10 million/a for the plant in the example. The founder of Teraade Proces was able to support increased EO production in many plants from 30% to more than 100% at minor investments

*) Patent Applications

1. WO96/33182
2. WO2002/026370
3. WO 03/044003
4. WO2004/002972
5. WO 2004078736
6. WO2004/078737
7. WO 2010/068094

Shell has all rights for the first 6 patents