Todd R. Steffens
Todd R. Steffens is Senior Engineering Associate at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company in Fairfax, VA. He joined Exxon Engineering in 1978 after receiving his B.S.Ch.E. from Lafayette College. Steffens is currently R&D coordinator for Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC), and he is responsible for planning and execution of programs for discovery, development, and deployment of new FCC technology in ExxonMobil's worldwide affiliates.
In his twenty-five year career with ExxonMobil Steffens has held a number of technical and supervisory assignments. He is a widely recognized expert in FCC process and catalyst technology, and he has been awarded 7 U.S. and 2 foreign patents on significant advances in FCC hardware and operating strategies. He has also co-authored three technical publications in this area. Following a technical advisory assignment in Esso Europe in the late 1980's, Steffens became Group Head for FCC Technology Development and Project Support at Exxon Engineering in Florham Park, NJ.
In 1999 Steffens was named Technology Development Leader for on-purpose propylene process development, heading a multi-organizational team which successfully achieved technical readiness in 2001. Following Exxon's merger with Mobil Steffens played has played a key role in shaping FCC technology strategy.
On-purpose Propylene from Olefinic Streams
ExxonMobil recently completed development of a new, on-purpose propylene technology based on catalytic naphtha cracking, called the ExxonMobil PCCSM Process. This process offers significant advantages over prior systems. The development of this technology was driven by the need for increased volumes of propylene to supplement supplies of propylene currently produced as co-products in Steam Cracking and Fluid Catalytic Cracking. The primary feedstocks for this process are olefinic naphtha streams from Cat Crackers, Cokers, and Steam Crackers, typically used as gasoline blend stocks. These streams can have high sulfur contents and it is expected that additional processing will be needed to meet future regulations in countries required to produce low sulfur gasoline. Hydrotreating, the likely candidate for sulfur reduction, requires hydrogen and consumes olefins, which not only adds to operating expense but also reduces the octane value of the product going to gasoline blending. The PCC Process provides a means of converting olefin molecules in these naphthas to high value ethylene, propylene, and (optionally) butylene prior to hydrotreatment, thereby reducing hydrogen consumption and octane loss in conjunction with upgrading lower value naphtha olefins to high value chemical products.