Concerned with the equalization of energy balance in the Vesta project and guided by technology advances in the ABC Paulista Petrochemical Complex, Braskem has developed the C10+ Oil. This solution, which was produced by the teams from the Industrial and Fuel Development areas, aims at finding alternatives for excess energy and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the unit.

Initial studies indicated that implementation of Vesta with an investment of BRL 600 million, an electric system modernization project in partnership with Siemens to improve energy efficiency at the ABC Petrochemical Complex, would lead to a monthly excess of 3 kt (kilotons) of Unileve (liquid fuel generated by co-products and used for burning in boilers in the Braskem Santo André unit), which comprises various currents with different chemical properties, while not meeting fuel oil regulations and becoming a challenge to the company.

Because of that, the best alternative would have been a segregation of C10+, one of the currents that make up 70% of Unileve. As a result, a plan was set up to ensure quality and enable storage by adapting a tank in order to receive the new product and building new lines to provide for safe tanker loading.

"Giving a destination to the main current that makes up Unileve, our unit turns achieves greater energy flexibility and autonomy to manage issues related to liquid fuel balance", states Rafael Monteiro, production engineer at the Braskem Aromatics center. "At the same time, our fuels commercial area has increased its product portfolio by adding a solution for the energy market", adds Tadeu Demboski of the Fuel Development area. 

Another significant advantage is the compliance with the sustainable development goals of Braskem by not burning Unileve in the industrial plant, a reduction of CO2 emissions the company estimates at 10 kt (kilotons) by the end of 2022.