Oil Re ning, petrochemicals, gasesand alternative fuel markets

Axens technologies, products and services

Built on rock-solid foundations

Tech nology licensingOil re ning The motor fuel expertsPetrochemicals A pacesetter in ole ns andaromatics puri cationGasesAlternative fuels

Catalysts, adsorbents and products

Advanced services

Field services

Axens and the environment

Worldwide network

Improving your performance and helping you to be moresuccessful constitute our only business. We are a non-aligned,pure technology company. We do not sell motor fuels orchemicals; we do not operate service stations. There is only onething that we do provide the technologies, products andservices that are needed to make your hydrocarbon processesoperate at their top performance. And our goal is to do thisbetter than anyone else in the world.Our objective is to be your benchmark technology company forapplications in the re ning, petrochemicals, gas processing andalternative fuels sectors. The combination of the technology andservices group with the catalyst and adsorbents manufacturingand supply business is an ef cient organization that handlesyour needs as a single source.Axens is built on an image of reference technology qualityproducts that are commercially proven, reliable and cost-effective. We hope that this image is transmitted through ourcorporate identity, our technical and commercial personnel andour trademarks.

Welcome to Axens, the home of ACE Technology, Alky ning,Alphabutol, Aro ning, Benfree, CRS Claus catalysts,Dimersol, Eluxyl, EquiFlow, H-Coal, Gasel, H-Oil,HR Series catalysts, Hyvahl, HyK Hydrocracking Technologies,Impulse Technology, LD Series catalysts, Lique n, Multibed,Octanizing, Oparis, ParamaX, Prime-G+, Prime-D, R2R,PetroRiser, and many, many more.We hope that you will nd the information in this brochure ofinterest and will contact our business units for additional detailsor visit our website at www.axens.net.

Jean SentenacAxens Chairman and Chief Executive Of cer

A historical perspectiveAxens, a fully-owned subsidiary of IFPEN, was created in 2001through the merger of the Procatalyse Catalysts and AdsorbentsCompany with IFPENs Industrial Division, which specialized intechnology licensing and services. This combination provides asingle-source offering of technology, products and services, andenables us to respond more ef ciently and rapidly to customerneeds.Today, we are globally known as a rst-class technology providerfor clean fuels production; conversion processes; benzene,toluene and xylene production and puri cation; high-purityole n monomer production; and sulfur production using Clauscatalysts. Tomorrow, you can expect to see us as a leader in theconversion of gas, coal and biomass into liquids (XTL) with ourH-Coal and Gasel FischerTropsch technologies.

Built on rock-solidfoundations

Operational organizationAxens North America, Axens Far East, Axens Beijing, AxensMiddle East, Axens India, Axens Vostok, Axens Canada, AxensSouth East Asia and Axens Catalysts Arabia are wholly ownedcompanies serving their respective local markets.Our operational organization covers technology licensing;catalyst and adsorbent manufacturing and supply; andoperational improvement programs.

Our missionAxens mission is to continually improve its customersperformance. We will grow by a combination of internaldevelopment, targeted alliances and acquisitions with thecontinuous objective of providing our customers with the bestoverall technologies, products and services available worldwide.

CEOExecutive Committee

Business Units

Subsidiaries

TechnologyDevelopment& Innovation

Process DesignTechnical ProposalsSalesAssociated TechnicalServices

ProductionTechnical ProposalsSalesAssistance toCustomer

Consulting ServicesSoftware Services

Process Licensing Catalysts &AdsorbentsPerformance

ProgramsAxens BeijingAxens CanadaAxens Catalysts ArabiaAxens Far EastAxens IndiaAxens Middle EastAxens North AmericaAxens South East AsiaAxens Vostok

Development ofNew Products andTechnologies

Support to theBusiness Units

Strong research and engineering(R&E) supportContinuing demand for lower investment costs, lower operatingcosts, lower emissions, higher yields, easier operations andshorter downtimes has led to many improvements that requiremultiple steps of veri cation before commercial implementation.Pilot plant veri cation is a key to commercial success. Axens R&Eprograms focus on developing new processes and products, andimproving existing ones to better meet your needs.Axens invests heavily in research and development, pilotplant testing and scale-up production of catalysts andadsorbents. Some investments are for short- to mid-termcommercial applications, but a signi cant number are forlong-term objectives that will bear fruit in a decade. Webelieve that is our role to provide the liquid fuels, conversionand petrochemical technologies for the coming decades.

Engineering and design for new processes and improvementsfor both grassroots and revamping projects are carried out inRueil-Malmaison, France, and Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Markets servedAxens is one of the worlds foremost suppliers of technologies,products and services to the re ning and petrochemicalintermediates markets. We are also active in the alternativefuels and gas processing markets.Our strong position in petroleum re ning covers virtuallyevery area from lique ed petroleum gas sweetening through tovacuum residue conversion and includes commercially provensolutions for clean fuels production.We deliver complete basic engineering design packages to ourcustomers, including HAZOP studies, detailed engineering reviewsand more. Our technical and economic feasibility and optimizationstudies will help to guide your improvement programs.Axens is a world-class provider in the petrochemical sector,with leading positions in the puri cation of monomer

intermediates and specialty ole ns, and in the production andpuri cation of cyclohexane, benzene, toluene and xylene.In gas processing, we have a long-standing lead in the supplyof performance catalysts for sulfur removal from natural gasand from re nery gases by the Claus process.The company is also entering the natural gas liquefaction eld(Lique n process) and positioning itself in gas-to-liquids (GTL)technology (Gasel process).Axens continues to develop new technologies for the growingalternative fuels markets: biodiesel, high-quality distillates fromcoal and liquid products through the conversion of the synthesisgas from various feedstocks such as biomass (BtL).

Oil re ning The motor fuel expertsWorking with Axens offers many advantages: skilled engineeringassets; our commitment to continuous development and thesearch for improvement; and our wide array of technologies,products and services. One of our strongest core businesses ismotor fuels production, puri cation and optimization.GasolineGasoline production and speci cation attainment are areas inwhich we are market pace setters. Our Octanizing (continuouscatalyst regeneration) and R2R (residue uidized catalyticcracking) technologies are cornerstones for gasoline production.Our Prime-G+ (selective desulfurization of gasoline fractions),Benfree (benzene reduction by hydrogenation), light naphthaisomerization, advanced recycle isomerization (includingIpsorb and Hexorb) and etheri cation technologies suchas MTBE, ETBE, TAME and TAEE are key process blocks forensuring gasoline speci cation attainment. Classed by thenumber of awarded licenses, many of these technologies areworldwide market leaders. More than 200 Prime-G+ units havebeen licensed.

Diesel fuelWe have been in diesel hydrotreating longer than in any otherre ning technology. Our Prime-D Toolbox is a market front-runner in ensuring high-quality, ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD).The toolbox contains high-activity and high-stability HR Seriescatalysts, Impulse, a complete, high performance range ofhydrotreating catalysts, and EquiFlow, the most advancedreactor internals in the industry.

Technology licensing

Expertise in residue conversion and heavy-endsupgrading technologiesWith the steady increase of lower API, higher-sulfur crudes inthe feedstock mix and declining markets for heavy fuels, interestin the conversion of bottom-of-the-barrel streams to lighter,lower-sulfur products has gathered momentum.Axens has the right conversion process or combination ofprocesses ready to upgrade the most intractable residues andgas oils.

Axens offers an extensive line of residue and heavy-fractionconversion technologies, among which are H-OilRC, H-OilDC,Hyvahl, MHCK (mild hydrocracking), HyC-10 (MHCK withintegrated diesel hydrotreating), HyK (high-conversionhydrocracking), R2R and Solvahl.In addition, HySCOP enables the conversion of low API, highsulfur crude oil into improved quality syncrude.

Petrochemicals - A pacesetter inole ns and aromatics puri cation Selective hydrogenation, aromatics production andpuri cation, and ole ns transformation are synonymouswith Axens.Our satis ed customers have made us a leading provider ofpetrochemical intermediate production and puri cation solutions.

Ole ns processingSteam crackers lie at the heart of the worlds ole ns production.Ultra-high-purity ole n building blocks are needed to respondto the quality requirements for polymerization reactions.Axens has the worlds largest portfolio of ole n processingtechnologies and catalysts, which is backed by a cumulativeonstream operating experience that exceeds 30 million hours.Our LD series catalysts are the clear market choice for all liquid-phase hydrogenation reactions, including the puri cation of C3,C4, C5 and pygas cuts. Ole n transformation reactions usinghomogeneous catalysts are Axens best sellers.They include AlphaButol, for the production of high puritybutene-1 from ethylene; and AlphaHexol for the productionof high purity hexene-1 from ethylene.

Paraxylene production and puri cationBenzene, toluene and paraxylene (BTX) are produced bynaphtha steam cracking or by naphtha catalytic reformingusing continuous catalyst regeneration technology (Aromizing).Paraxylene (PX) is used as a building block in the production ofpolyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used in plastic bottlesand a vast array of synthetic bers.Axens is a leader in PX production and puri cation technologieswith the ParamaX suite of aromatics technologies. The Eluxylprocess for PX separation is at the heart of the ParamaX suiteand is known for its excellence in operation, high-capacitytrains and high-stability molecular sieve adsorbent. Otheraromatics process technologies in the ParamaX suite, includingxylenes isomerization, transalkylation and extractive distillation,offer improved yield performance, and lower investment andoperating costs.

Cyclohexane productionAxens is the world leader in high-purity cyclohexane productionthrough benzene hydrogenation with its HC series catalysts.

Aromatics the ParamaX suite

Gas processing We provide gas treating processes that address this rapidlyexpanding market.

The RAM processDownstream processing and environmental needs require theremoval of arsenic and mercury compounds from natural gasand condensate streams at a parts-per-billion level. Axensprocesses recover these contaminants for controlled disposal.

MultibedMultibed processing removes contaminants such as liquid orgaseous water, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sul de and chloridesfrom gas or condensate streams using combinations of specialtyalumina and molecular sieve adsorbents. The ability of thispatented system to withstand liquid slugs and higher-than-normal concentrations of water makes this process popularwith gas processors.

Sulfur recoveryAxens has a long history in sulfur recovery catalysts via the Clausprocess. We are the worlds leading premium Claus catalystssupplier and have a complete range of catalysts, adsorbents andactive support materials for Claus and tail-gas treating units,and integrated gasi cation combined cycle cogeneration plants.

DryingOur high-quality AxSorb activated aluminas are used foralmost every application where trace water removal is requiredfrom hydrocarbon gases or air.AxSorb adsorbents are speci cally designed to providethe best combination of mechanical strength, adsorptioncharacteristics, hydrothermal aging and retention to fouling forindividual applications.

LiquenThis new, highly competitive natural gas liquefaction process hasmany advantages and has a substantially lower capital cost thanconventional schemes. Its modular construction means that trainsize is no longer limited by a single cryogenic heat exchanger.Ef cient, low-cost, multiple plate- n exchangers are employed.The heat-exchange duty, traditionally assured by two verydifferent refrigeration systems, is balanced so that identical driverscan be used for the main compressors. Operation is simpli ed, andthe costs for spares and maintenance are considerably reduced.Lique n received the British Institution of Chemical Engineers2002 Award for Safety, Environment, Best Practice and Innovation.

Alternative fuelsTo meet future demands, non-oil-based alternative fuels will berequired to supply a signi cant share of the motor fuel market.The key technologies or process chains of interest for supplyingalternative fuel needs are natural gas to liquids (GtL), bio-ethanol,biomass to diesel (BtL), direct coal to liquids (DCL) and indirectcoal to liquids (CtL).Axens has developed and continues to work on new processes, suchas Ester p-H, H-Coal and Gasel FischerTropsch technologies,to respond to the increasing demand for alternative fuels.

Gasel a key to clean fuelsThe motor fuels sector faces a double challenge: provide anincreasing quantity of ever-cleaner fuels and nd sources thatdo not rely on crude oil. Our Gasel technology suite answersthis challenge through the conversion of synthesis gas (H2 + CO)from various origins, natural gas, biomass, and coal, into waxymaterials that are hydrocracked into ultra-clean liquid fuels(GtL and BtL).

VeganAxens has been a pioneer in the rst-generation biodiesel market,which involves vegetable oil transesteri cation. Ester p-H, ahighly ef cient continuous and heterogeneous catalyzed processwas launched in the Mid-2000s.When the objective is to produce drop-in middle distillate biofuelsfrom renewable lipids, Vegan, on Axens technology, has the exibility to process vegetable oils animal fats as well as futurelipidic feedstocks such as algal oil.

Direct coal liquefactionAxens provides all technologies for direct coal liquefaction andupgrading of coal liquids. The H-Coal process is designed toproduce high-quality distillates fuels using our commerciallyproven ebulated-bed reactor system.

HydrogenationHydrogenation is a key puri cation process for both the re ningand petrochemical industries. Its importance is driven by theneed to optimize plant operations to comply with increasinglystringent speci cations. Our broad experience and catalysttechnology bring you the best in performance, reliability andtechnical support. In addition to workhorse catalysts such asthe LD series, we offer a wide range of products that can beadapted to virtually any hydrogenation scenario.

We are committed to the development, manufacture and serviceof catalysts and adsorbents for the re ning, petrochemical,chemical and gas markets.Our manufacturing sites are in Salindres, France; and Calvert City,Kentucky, Savannah, Georgia, Willow Island, Virginia in the USAand Brockville in Canada.A substantial portion of our revenue is reinvested in catalystdevelopment and improvement so we can offer the best catalystsavailable, both now and in the future.

Hydrotreating and hydroconversionWith the programmed improvement in fuel product speci cationsand increased demand for middle distillates, hydrotreatingcatalyst technology has become crucial to the re ning industry.Axens offers a complete product range of hydrotreating andhydroconversion catalysts from naphtha and gas oil to residueapplications.Axens investments in catalyst development and in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities brings you the best catalyststhrough the Impulse , HR, HT, HRK, HDK, HYK, HTS, HYCand HMC series. These product lines are strongly supported bycommercial experience and a complete offer of services andproprietary EquiFlow reactor internals.

Catalysts, adsorbents and products

Reforming and isomerizationAxens is a leader in naphtha reforming. We have been veryactive in this market for over four decades, and provide acomplete range of reforming catalysts for semiregenerative,cyclic and continuous regeneration processes that is suitable forall unit designs. Our portfolio also includes aromatics productionand isomerization catalysts. Our AR, CR, RG, ATIS, P, PR andPS series products come with a complete range of expertiseand services, and proprietary techniques such as Texicap andCatapac.

Sulfur recoveryEnvironmental regulations concerning fuels and industrial wastespresent a serious challenge to re ners who must treat increasingamounts of acid gases while simultaneously improving sulfurrecovery. For years, we have brought to the marketplace attractivesolutions for sulfur recovery as well as a complete portfolio ofsolutions for sulfur reduction in fuels. Our Symphony , AM, AMS,DR, CSM, CR, CRS, and TG series products t your needs.Axens is the worlds leading supplier of top-of-the-line Claussulfur recovery catalysts.

Guard bedsAs a pioneer in the eld of noble metal catalyst utilization andprotection of these catalysts from premature deactivation,Axens offers a full range of guard bed materials to trap catalystcontaminants and poisons such as sulfur, arsenic and mercury, andparticle contaminants such as polymeric materials, rust, sand andsludge. Ask us about AxTrap and CMG series products.

AxSorb adsorbentsAdsorption is a well-known technique that is employed topurify many different gas and liquid streams.Axens, with its unique range of molecular sieves and specialtyaluminas, squeezes the best performance from your units.With decades of experience in adsorption technology, we donot only supply products, we also deliver global expertiseand services. Our commercially proven multibed technologyprovides an optimized combination of our adsorbents forimproved operations.

Grading materialsThe ACT series of grading materials is available to prevent reactoror adsorber bed contamination through impurities entering withthe feed. The series covers the complete range of inert and activegrading materials in various sizes and shapes.Grading materials are used to extend reactor or adsorberoperating cycles, especially if the operation is subject to pressuredrop increases. A pressure drop often occurs across a thin crustof agglomerated material, such as coke particles, metal oxides,corrosion products, polymer or gum, arriving with the feed.Grading materials trap and store the offending materials.Axens supplies inert and active grading materials, and theexpertise to ensure their proper application.

Specialized catalystsAxens markets a variety of dedicated catalysts that meet specialmarket needs. The catalytic functions cover homogeneous andheterogeneous reactions in Axens biodiesel, FischerTropsch,oligomerization, sweetening and ole n dimerization andtrimerization processes.

Toll manufacturingIf you need for a particular catalyst or adsorbent that is notdirectly available from our catalogue, contact us to discuss theformulation of a product to meet your requirements.

Reactor internalsWith product sulfur speci cations converging around the1015 ppm level worldwide, near perfect uid distribution incatalytic beds is crucial. The smallest disturbance in ow in thereactor has a profound impact on product quality.EquiFlow reactor internals optimize ow distribution at theentrance of each catalyst bed and ensure homogeneousmixing of uids inside reactors, thereby providing the longestoperational cycle lengths. EquiFlow internals are application-speci c. By making better use of our excellent catalysts,EquiFlow reduces the number of change-outs, improves theonstream factor and reduces the overall catalyst costs.

We provide a complete service program that includes start-upassistance, performance follow-up, analysis of spent material,regeneration recommendations and performance prediction.We furnish our customers with all the technical services neededduring the entire life of our products. The services coveredduring the products nal phase include end-of-cycle catalyst analyses for regeneration decision

technical expert evaluation and recommendations on reuse

unloading supervision

product disposal assistance.

CatapacCatapac is an ultra-high-density loading technique that isused to add more catalyst to the same reactor volume: up to20% additional catalyst. With Catapac, particle distribution inthe bed is more homogeneous than with sock and other denseloading methods, thereby avoiding pressure gradients in thecatalyst bed, which could lead to coking or gas production.

TexicapTexicap is an innovative concept in reactor internals. It offerssubstantially higher performance from xed-bed radial reactorswhere low pressure drop is critical, such as in reforming units.Applying Texicap in semiregenerative reforming reactors canprovide a combined addition of up to 15% additional throughputand higher activity or longer cycle length to your operations.

SorbotestWherever catalyst contamination is an issue, our analytical andtroubleshooting Sorbotest services are available to help youidentify the problem and respond with the appropriate solution.Sorbotest is a unique service using a skid-mounted adsorberthat can identify an array of feedstock contaminants.

Advanced services

Performance Programs (P2)Axens Performance Program, P2, provides services for new andexisting plants in the re ning and petrochemical industries.P2 helps you to bring out the best in your assets by boostingplant operations to new levels and moving your plant toward itsoptimum economic potential.P2 provides major cost-effective improvement services forexisting plants. Such services start with comprehensive plant-performance surveys incorporating recommendations forimprovement and implementation. These are followed bymaster plans for modernizing the re nery process scheme andtools to enhance staff technical competence and responsetimes, thereby limiting or eliminating costly unscheduledshutdowns.

P2 can also accompany the investor through to the constructionof a new asset by helping in making the right choices, whetherduring the pre-feasibility, the feasibility or the conceptualengineering phase.P2 applies half a century of Axens experience to providebest-in-class services to squeeze that extra performancefrom your plant. It combines dedicated teams having strongtechnical know-how with a wealth of accumulated engineeringexperience and advanced computational techniques to providehigh-quality performance programs.P2 offers a customized approach, including tailored studies,audits and consulting services, covering technical andoperational issues in the re ning and petrochemical industries.P2 makes a positive economic difference through a variety ofdifferent services.

Consulting servicesNew asset studies Pre-feasibility studies Feasibility studies (technical and bankable) Conceptual engineering studies

Existing asset optimization Master planning for existing assets Energy ef ciency improvement and greenhouse gas (GHG)emission mitigation

Speci c consulting services Feedstock and product market analysis Crude opportunity studies Site location studies Petroleum terminal studies Preliminary environmental impact assessments (pre-EIA) andpreliminary hazard assessments (pre-HA)

Powerful consulting tools

Software servicesProcess operation simulators (webPOS)

Advanced process control (APC)

Advanced training

Customer service is our businessIn serving you better, we ful ll our mission.

TrainingAxens has a wide selection of training programs from on-site and classroom-type operator training for Axens units totraining programs for operators and foremen delivered throughIFPENs Continuing Education Center, IFP Training. Axens alsoprovides speci c and generic operator-training simulators formost process applications.

Start-up assistanceAs part of a process licensing or catalyst purchase agreement,Axens provides assistance for inspection, pre-commissioning,commissioning, catalyst loading and all start-up and operationalknow-how to ensure that your unit performs to expectations.

Operation supportMonitoring and assistance continues once your unit is upand running. We offer optimization studies; evaluationand enhancement; performance monitoring; consulting;analyses; troubleshooting; regeneration consulting; catalystand adsorbent loading; and catalyst recovery to ensureoptimal performance of your units, re neries, gas plants andpetrochemical complexes.

Field services

Axens and the Environment

Contributing to a cleaner worldOur commitment includes: the nature of the processes, products and services that we

deliver to our customers the operation of our industrial plants in a manner that

respects the environment, the health and the safety of ouremployees and the public.

The nature of our processes, products and servicesThrough the development of technologies, catalyst and servicessupplied to the re ning, petrochemical intermediates andgas processing markets, Axens contributes to improving energyef ciency and producing cleaner products. Clean fuels production: Axens is a benchmark company

in clean fuels technology. Clean fuels are key ingredients inimproving air quality by reducing motor vehicle emissions.We provide the re ning industry with hydroprocessingtechnologies and associated catalysts to produce cleanfuels, virtually free of sulfur, that meet the most stringentspeci cations.

Re nery tail gas and natural gas sulfur removal: Axens isa worlds leading premium Claus catalysts supplier for sulfurrecovery units. Our products are among the most active andlongest lasting for the conversion of hydrogen sul de, presentin re nery tail gas or natural gas, into saleable sulfur, thuscontributing to air quality improvement worldwide.

Natural gas and condensate puri cation: Downstreamprocessing and environmental needs impose removal ofarsenic and mercury compounds from natural gas andcondensate streams at a parts-per-billion level. Our processesand adsorbents recover these contaminants for controlleddisposal rather than release them to the local environment.

Energy ef ciency: Our Performance Programs teams provideenergy ef ciency studies to improve the operation of industrialplants and to identify projects that could be eligible forthe Kyoto Protocols Clean Development Mechanism. As aresult, we assist in contributing to greenhouse gas emissionsreduction.

Management policyIn accordance with our Quality, Health, Safety and EnvironmentPolicy, Axens continuously strives to improve the quality of itsproducts and services, and the safety of its operations and toreduce emissions and waste streams at its production plants. Amajor environmental plan was launched several years ago andemissions have been drastically reduced.

Worldwide networkWe operate a worldwide network

Contact us on the web anytime,anywhere, at:www.axens.net