To: Clarence Wilson who wrote (357 ) 11/10/1997 3:33:00 PM From: wlheatmoon Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 14347
Here's the "lame-assed" message. Monday November 10, 1:25 pm Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Rentech, Inc. Rentech Provides Potential Solution For Upgrading 'Refinery Bottoms' DENVER, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- RENTECH, INC. (Nasdaq: RNTK - news), the Denver- based holding company and developer of a patented and proprietary process for the conversion of carbon-bearing materials including natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons (Gas-to-Liquids, GTL) today reported that based on testing of synthesis gas having a low hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio which is produced by the gasification of coal and low-value refinery residuum (refinery bottoms) Rentech's GTL process can efficiently convert that gas into sulphur-free liquid hydrocarbons such as a clean diesel fuel or ''eco diesel''. Dennis L. Yakobson, President and CEO of Rentech stated, ''High sulphur low value residual refinery products are potential feedstocks of growing importance for gasification. Within the next ten years a large surplus of high sulphur residue predicted which cannot be readily absorbed by the market. Conversion of such material to synthesis gas by conventional gasification technologies is an attractive option. The synthesis gas with its low hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio is an excellent feedstock source for conversion into liquid hydrocarbons by the application of the Company's proprietary and patented iron-based catalyst. The hydrocarbon end products as well as other byproducts such as the excess steam and hydrogen produced by the process can all be utilized at the refinery. Rentech's patented diesel fuel fraction is an excellent blending stock to upgrade non-specification fuels or to improve the quality of the commercial diesel currently being produced at the refinery by lowering the aromatic and sulphur content and increasing the cetane index all of which reduce harmful emissions. Phil Hunt, a director of Chem Systems Ltd. of London, reported in the ''Oil and Gas Journal'' on December 9, 1996 that by the year 2000 there will be a potential world surplus of approximately 25 million tons per year of high sulphur fuel oil due to its high sulphur content. If this surplus could be converted by a GTL process such as Rentech's, into clean liquid hydrocarbons, it would equate to approximately 50 million barrels per year in useable sulphur-free diesel fuel. The addition of a Rentech conversion facility to an existing or planned gasification system at a refinery could be operational in considerably less time than it takes to build a grass roots GTL facility of equal capacity. With refinery infrastructure, staffing and other required process equipment such as product distillation and storage already in place, retrofitting a Rentech gas conversion plant will be a cost and time effective solution to a growing world problem. For more information please contact Mark Koenig, Director-Investor Relations, Rentech, Inc. at 303-298-8008 or E-Mail at RNTK1331@aol.com or visit our web site at www.gastoliquids.com. SOURCE: Rentech, Inc.