Challenges with carbon disulfide removal in petrochemical naphtha

DWC Innovations / 04 August, 2026 / Articles

As refiners increase their focus on petrochemical integration, producing high-purity petrochemical naphtha (PCN) has become increasingly important. A key challenge is removing carbon disulfide (CS2), a contaminant that can poison downstream catalysts and negatively impact petrochemical production. Traditional removal methods such as hydrotreating and adsorption are effective but often require significant capital investment, higher operating costs, and additional hydrogen consumption. This case study demonstrates how Dividing Wall Column (DWC) technology provided a practical and economical alternative at a Southeast Asian refinery.

<1 ppmCS2 in petrochemical naphtha
1Depentanizer revamped to DWC
iC5Rich stream to gasoline pool
PTQReprinted, Q3 2022
Case study · Southeast Asia refinery

Highlights

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CS2 concentrated into a dedicated side-cut stream

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Petrochemical naphtha produced with less than 1 ppm CS2

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Reduced load on the hydrotreating unit

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Valuable iC5-rich stream generated for premium gasoline blending

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The takeaway

The project shows how DWC technology can improve product quality, reduce CAPEX and OPEX, and create new revenue opportunities through advanced distillation and process optimization.