Description

The Moeve Chemicals plant located in Bécancour, Canada, produces approximately 120,000 t/y of linear alkylbenzene (LAB) for the North American market. This output represents about 22% of the continental demand and 3% of global production. LAB serves as the primary feedstock for the manufacture of biodegradable detergents (LAS – linear alkylbenzene sulfonates).

The Bécancour facility is recognized for its strong environmental impact reduction program and remains the only LAB production site in Canada. The plant employs Detal technology, developed jointly by UOP and Moeve Chemicals.

LAB production begins with benzene, linear paraffins, and alpha-olefins as raw materials. Benzene is supplied by Suncor’s Montreal refinery and transported by ship to Bécancour, while linear paraffins are imported by sea from Spain. At the site, operations involve converting linear paraffins into olefins, followed by the alkylation of benzene with these olefins to produce high-purity linear alkylbenzene. Heavy alkylates (dialkylbenzenes, primarly) are side products of the process which are also sold.

An expansion of the tank park was proposed to local authorities in 2019. Five new tanks accounting for a total capacity of 26 300 m³ would be erected in the tank park. The project has been approved.  

Galery

(Mailhot, 2015)

(SPIPB, s.d.)

Process Flow Diagram (Detal Process)

(Shokri and Karimi, 2021)

Mediagraphy

Shokri, A., & Karimi, S. (2021). A review in linear alkylbenzene (LAB) production processes in the petrochemical industry. Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry, 94(10), 1546–1559. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1070427221110094 

Cepsa Chimie Bécancour Inc. (2019). Expansion Project of the Tank Farm at Cepsa Chimie Bécancour – Volume 2: Appendices. Environmental Impact Study submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change. Report prepared by SNC-Lavalin, Environment and Geosciences, November 2019.

Cepsa Chimie Bécancour Inc. (2025). Bécancour, Canada – Our story. Retrieved from https://chemicals.moeveglobal.com/en/plants/plant-becancour-canada 

Mailhot, J. (2015, October 26). Incursion chez CEPSA Chimie Bécancour. Le Courrier Sud. Retrieved from https://www.lecourriersud.com/le-courrier-sud/incursion-chez-cepsa-chimie-becancour/

SPIPB - Société du Parc Industriel et Portuaire de Bécancour (n.d.). Avantages et infrastructures du Parc industriel. Gouvernement du Québec. https://www.spipb.com/fr/parc-industriel-becancour