Our Algae to biocrude and biochemicals effort aims at establishing a green platform that harnesses natural resources, such as freely available sunlight, sea water, carbon dioxide and low cost nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) to produce abundant quantities of biomass that can be converted to biocrude and biochemicals. Research efforts on algae are focused on physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics, and development of process technologies for algae cultivation, harvesting, and water management as well as processing technologies for converting biomass to bio-crude and bio-chemicals. Reliance has achieved significant technical breakthroughs in improving photosynthesis efficiency, developed best-in-the-world genetic engineering capabilities and proprietary catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology for conversion of wet biomass to biofuel as well recovering water and nutrients. These capabilities will lead Reliance towards developing new business opportunities in synthetic biology area such as next generation agriculture, nutritional food/feed, genomics, healthcare, etc.

Reliance has developed a catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (RCAT-HTL) process, which converts any biomass and organic waste into “drop-in” energy dense renewable crude. The process is feed flexible – it can process dry as well wet waste. There is no need to dry the wet waste. The process recovers water as well as nutrients. Reliance has also developed some of the world’s most innovative algae cultivation systems. The company is exploring multidisciplinary biology and engineering streams to create a safe and sustainable source of biofuels, bio-chemicals and nutritional products as food and feed. Algal bio-crude will help reduce India’s dependence on energy import and also fortify our rural economy by creating a large number of jobs.

Reliance considers carbon dioxide an asset, not a liability. In pursuit of a sustainable and low emission future, Reliance has developed a technology called Energy Integrated Circulating Fluidized Bed Process for CO₂ Capture. This is an adsorption-based process that follows carbonate-bicarbonate chemistry.

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Currently, RIL is engaged with conversion of CO₂ into environmentally benign organic carbonate by non-reductive route and conversion of CO₂ along with other co-reactants like H2S, H2 into chemical products that are industrially useful at significant scale by reductive route.

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The in-house energy integrated capture process has the following excellent attributes:

- improved adsorbent system with good mechanical strength and high adsorption capacity
- circulating fluidized bed reactor system
- lower temperature differential between adsorption-desorption step
- recovery and utilization of flue gas heat to compensate partial heat demand
- heat pump concept for upgradation of low quality waste heat for adsorbent regeneration
- less than one half total energy as compared to conventional monoethanolamine absorption process etc.

Reliance’s Aluminium chloride (AlCl₃) based ionic liquid catalysts are fifty times less expensive than competitive ionic liquid products. These catalysts are more benign, reusable, recyclable and can be made at scale. They are highly effective replacements for toxic hazardous acids such as hydrofluoric acid or sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). Reliance is developing a breakthrough safer and environmentally friendly process for manufacturing linear alkyl benzenes using these ionic liquid catalysts. This platform technology has the potential to lead Reliance to many other breakthrough processes.

Oxygenates and carbon disulphide are highly undesired contaminants in naphtha feedstock to downstream petrochemicals. Reliance has developed a novel process for processing naphtha in a fixed bed reactor over acidic resin catalyst which converts ether into its respective olefins and methanol. This methanol can then easily be removed by washing with water, thereby reducing the oxygenate concentration in the naphtha to meet any required high specifications. The process technology has been successfully demonstrated and is ready for commercialization.

Reliance has developed MCC technology which is thermo-neutral process involving conversion of a wide range of feedstock to high value propylene and ethylene in a single riser using novel cracking catalysts in combination with innovative arrangement of multi feed injections at various points on the riser in sequential manner depending of crackability of feedstock. MCC includes proprietary reactor design, catalyst formulation (at least 3 components) and process integration to maximize petrochemicals from crude and low value refinery hydrocarbon streams. Its petrochemicals yields are >70% with no liquid fuel. The process patent has already been granted in India, USA, Singapore, Australia, China, Canada, Japan and South Korea.
 

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Our path breaking Enhanced Propylene Recovery (EPR) technology enhances the recovery of propylene and LPG from FCC Fuel gas to more than 99 mole %. This technology has been granted patents in India and the US. Considering many new FCC units being planned in different regions especially in India, China and the Middle East, deployment of this technology will help enhance the recovery of high value propylene and LPG from low value fuel gas. EPR technology is being considered for worldwide licensing.Another path breaking technology developed in FCC is olefinic feed cocracking (OFC2). This allows to upgrade low value olefinic naphtha (e.g. coker naphtha) to high value propylene and gasoline in existing FCC in co-cracking mode with VGO feed. The patents filed for this technology have been granted in India, USA and Europe (Spain, Germany, UK and France). This technology is also being implemented at commercial level.

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Reliance Maximum Propylene (RMP-5) ZSM-5 additive is a novel product which incorporates innovations for improved activity and stability of additives for fluid catalytic cracking applications. Our R&D teams overcame major challenges of developing a new product to improve the ZSM-5 activity and stability while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength at lower costs. The RMP-5 technology maximizes propylene yield compared to the best commercial alternative. The technology has won patents in India, the US and the EU.

Plastic pollution is a major environmental concern globally. Reliance has developed biodegradable polymers for packaging applications which are at par with conventional packaging polymers in terms of physical and mechanical properties. This development will reduce plastic waste generation and help curb adverse environmental impac

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Reliance Disentangled Polyethylene (DPE) is an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene synthesized with significantly high crystallinity compared to conventional polyethylene.  The high polymer crystallinity is made possible by a new, proprietary single site catalyst that produces polymer chains in a highly regular fashion.  DPE exhibits superior processing characteristics such as increased flow, lower power consumption and higher stretchability compared to conventional polyethylene. The product also exhibits improved mechanical strength. When used in high strength fiber applications DPE fibers show strength superior to poly-aramid at lower specific gravity and lower cost.  High strength DPE fibers have application in many fields including automotive composites, defense and aerospace applications.

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RIL is developing a high-performance polypropylene for specialty applications. The product provides superior impact strength, tensile properties, wear resistance and chemical resistance. This novel product and its blends can be used in numerous applications such as ballistic protection fabrics, micro porous foams, composites for telecom, automobile, construction industry and in consumer goods

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Linear low-density polyethylene remains dominant in packaging industry for film and sheet applications. This segment is growing at a faster pace than conventional polyethylene. Drivers of growth include processing and performance advantages such as enhanced puncture and impact resistance, improved sealing capabilities and higher clarity compared to conventional thermoplastics. Reliance aspires to be one of leading players in this segment and working on development of these grades in their gas phase polyethylene plants.  

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Today global warming, climate change, carbon footprint reduction are big concerns for society. Reliance R&D has developed a novel elastomer that will help reduce vehicular pollution. This carbon-free composite of developed novel elastomer shows superior rolling resistance, abrasion resistance and better skid resistance with superior processability. As a result of these properties, car tyres will consume less fuel, leading to reduced emissions.

Reliance developed First Generation RELCAT^TM10X for homo, random and ICP grades for gas phase polymerization process. This is followed by further improvement in product performance and operational efficiency by commercializing proprietary 2^nd Gen RELCAT^TM10X/RELD^TM and 3^rd Gen morphological RELCAT^TM100Y/RELD^TM Catalyst technologies. Current commercialization efforts are in progress to shift to 4^th generation shape and size controlled RELCAT^TM200Y/RELD^TM and RELCAT^TM300Y/RELD^TM technology for high performance polypropylene grades. Successful commercialization of high performance Reliance polypropylene catalyst technologies is made possible by morphological controlled proprietary  RELS^TM catalyst precursor technology.

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Reliance  has developed in-house high-performance transition metal catalyst technology for Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) manufacturing. Currently this in-house developed catalyst is commercialized internally at Reliance. Major grades of this technology cater to the film and roto-moulding segments of the polyethylene market. 

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Olefins generated in hydrocarbons being facile coke precursors are undesirable in many processes in aromatics plant and need to be removed to protect expensive adsorbents or catalysts in downstream of aromatic plants. Due to its low cost acid activated clay is commonly used for olefins removal form aromatic hydrocarbon streams.  However, clay treaters have operational issues such as shorter cycle life, longer replacement period, and difficulty in disposal. Reliance has developed a patented catalytic process which uses a catalyst that is regenerable and eco-friendly, provides higher cycle life, and is competitive to existing commercial alternatives in the longer run.

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Para-diethyl benzene (PDEB) is a high value, low volume chemical that is used as a desorbent in adsorptive separation of para-xylene from C8 aromatic mixture. Reliance has developed, scaled-up and commercialized a super selective catalyst and a unique process for production of PDEB using a non-conventional feed (by-product from naphtha cracker unit). Reliance holds the Intellectual Property rights for both the catalyst and the process through a number of national and international patents.

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Catalytic reforming process is used in refining for production of aromatics such as, benzene, toluene and xylene. Reliance has adopted a novel approach to developing reforming catalyst for Continuous Catalytic Regeneration (CCR) process. The catalyst is prepared by coating a promoter on spherical shaped chloride-free alumina as support. This catalyst – which is first of its kind in the world – is an optimized high-performance catalyst that enhances stability and increases C5+ and aromatic yields.

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Hexene-1 is an important co-monomer used in the manufacture of LLDPE. Reliance has developed an in-house homogeneous catalyst and process for the selective trimerization of ethylene to Hexene-1 with high purity (>99+%). Currently efforts are directed towards developing  next generation homogeneous catalysts with improved activity.

Sulphur is a by-product generated from the refinery. The potential of sulphur extended bitumen for improving road pavement is well recognized; however, commercial use was limited due to H₂S evolution. A refinery sulphur based formulation called as Reliance bitumen sulphur (RelBitS™) has been developed for road pavement through an innovative approach which prevents H₂S emission during hot mixing of sulphur with bitumen. The unique environment friendly formulation of sulphur not only prevents H₂S odor but also significantly improves road life and its performance. The product is safe to handle for road construction workers and this technology helps reduce the quantity of bitumen required for road pavement.

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Reliance has developed Reliance Farm Sulphur (RelFarmS™), a refinery sulphur based fertilizer suitable for agricultural applications. Unlike conventional refinery sulphur based products, this product has unique properties like faster dispersion in the soil and enhanced rate of conversion to the desired sulphate form resulting into better agronomic performance. The field trials have proved the potential of RelFarmS in improving the yield five times for crops like onions, groundnut, sunflower, sugarcane, cotton, soybeans, mangoes etc. The developed RelFarmS™ technology provides flexibility in tailoring multiple grades for specific types of soil, especially dry soil found in different regions of the country.  RelFarmS™ can also be tailored with additional functionality by incorporating crop-specific plant growth hormones to enhance crop yield.

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Reliance has developed Sulphur based intercalating networks, and working on its application development in various fields. Polysulfide based sealants and coatings are having applications in construction, industrial, marine and households due to its water resistance, good adhesion strengths and superior chemical resistance properties. Sulphur based waterless concrete is another application in construction sector. It is a binder that completely replaces the cement and water in concrete. It can be tailored to the specific needs of different concrete applications, enabling to produce high strength, durable products with a lower environmental footprint than conventional cement.

Reliance will be the largest producer of syngas from the coal gasification units at Jamnagar.  Besides being used as energy feedstock, additional valorisation of syngas is possible by converting it to chemicals / bio-chemicals via chemistry and fermentation route. Using synthetic biology approaches, novel biochemical pathways have been designed to produce various chemicals in syngas utilizing bacteria at Reliance.  Novel state of the art capabilities have been built in the metabolic engineering area.  Reliance is also developing various catalysts and processes to convert syngas into value added products using chemical route.

Global lifestyle changes have triggered demand for sustainable materials such as eco-friendly polymers. Synthetic biology-enabled technologies along with Reliance’s capabilities in algal technology have tremendous potential to address this demand by providing sustainable biomaterials and polymers. These materials can be produced in the least detrimental way, and may in fact help reverse greenhouse gas emissions in the future. These novel biomaterials - nanocellulose, non-animal leather, spider silk etc. - and their composites have the potential to meet the vast needs of the biomedical, wound care and personal care markets.

Algal biomass is a rich source of small molecules and polymers with potential in food and feed applications. Algal protein production is 30 times higher than any other conventional crop, making it the best source of essential amino acids compared to conventionally available protein. Reliance R&D has developed the most productive, robust and scalable year-round algal cultivation and downstream technologies, through which we aim to offer the best, sustainable, algal alternatives for conventional food and feed ingredients.