SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing (RIPP), founded in 1956, is a comprehensive petroleum refining and petrochemical science and technology research development organization directly under SINOPEC Corp. It is mainly devoted to the development and application of petroleum refining technologies, while laying stress on petroleum refining-petrochemical integration and focusing on the R&D of corresponding petrochemical technologies as well. In the recent years, it has been reinforcing its innovation in new alternative fuel and energy sources. It is now in the process of transforming itself into an all-directional energy R&D organization mainly engaged in petroleum refining and in petroleum refining-petrochemical integration as well. During the passing years, in aspect of technology innovation RIPP not only attaches great importance to the cooperation with enterprises and designing institutes, but also lays stress on the market demands. Moreover, it devotes much attention to the oriented basic research and applied basic research. Meanwhile, it accumulates scientific knowledge and its experience in process and engineering, so as to exert the effect of knowledge innovation to promote technology innovation. Presently, RIPP has the solid R & D capability and advantages in the fields of crude oil evaluation, refining technologies, catalysts, petroleum products and integrated technologies for whole refinery as well. The broad R&D activities include technologies as follows: clean gasoline, kerosene and diesel production, inferior and/or heavy crude oil processing, petroleum processing -petrochemical integration, aromatics production, petroleum products production, and petrochemicals production. In addition, RIPP also engages in research on alternative fuels, basic research in oil refining technology, application of information technology, and technology for analyzing and testing.
 
RIPP holds a research team of prodigious expertise in various disciplines, staffed with 967 people, including 812 professionals in 17 research departments. Among them, there are 6 members of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, 92 senior engineers with professorship, 378 senior engineers and technicians, 169 with PhD degree and 198 with Master's degree. RIPP is equipped with approximately 1,000 sets of laboratory scale and pilot scale plants together with a large array of advanced analytical equipment engaged in R&D of oil refining technologies, petrochemical, fine chemicals, additives, and petroleum products application, etc.. RIPP has a division of National Engineering Research Center for Petroleum Refining Technology and Catalyst (NERC-PRTC), State Key Laboratory of Catalytic Material and Reaction Engineering, Lubricant Evaluation Center, and Water Treatment Technology Service Center, etc. It is also designated as the organization responsible for domestic Petroleum Products Standardization. In addition, the National Supervision and Testing Center for Petroleum Products Quality and the Petroleum Refining Division of Chinese Petroleum Association are all based in RIPP. Three professional Journals related to petroleum refining and petrochemicals, i.e. "ACTA PETROLEI SINICA", "Petroleum Processing and Petrochemicals" and "China Petroleum Processing and Petrochemical Technology"  (in English version) are edited and published by RIPP. In terms of education and training, RIPP establishes a post-graduate department and a post-doctoral research station, and is authorized to confer PhD degrees in Chemical Technology and Applied Chemistry as well as Master's degrees in Chemical Technology, Applied Chemistry, Industrial Catalysis and Chemical Engineering.
 
Through 51 years' efforts, RIPP has grown into a comprehensive research and development institution that is fully equipped and has prodigious expertise in scientific research, and has integrated the scientific research and development of petroleum refining and petrochemical technologies with technology licensing, technical consulting and technical services. Ever since its foundation, RIPP has made 820 scientific and technical achievements with awards on a ministerial level and 105 State Prizes. Among them, there are one National Top Science and Technology Award, two First Prize of National Technology Invention Award, one Special Prize of National Science and Technology Advancement Award and 7 First Prize of National Science and Technology Advancement. By the end of 2007, RIPP had applied for domestic patents of 2334 sets, of which 1434 sets had been granted; and applied for foreign patents of 462 sets with 259 sets granted. As a prestigious honor, RIPP won 4 Gold Prize Awards issued by the Patent Office of the People's Republic of China and the World Intellectual Property Organization jointly. In the year of 2007, RIPP applied for domestic patents of 262 sets and was granted with 150 sets; and applied for foreign patents of 57 sets with 36 sets granted. In the recent years, the number of patent applications of RIPP has almost always ranked the first place among the research institutes in China.
 
In different historical phases, RIPP has developed outstanding technologies that had an important role and greatly accelerated the evolution of Chinese refining industry. In 1960s, Chinese modern oil refining technology emerged and developed with the symbol of the so-called ”Five Golden Flowers” in China’s oil refining history: Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC), Catalytic Reforming, Delayed Coking, Urea Dewaxing, New Catalysts and Additives. RIPP participated in the R&D of the above-mentioned technologies. Meanwhile, the jet fuel and special lubricant oil and grease for military purposes developed by RIPP had met the urgent needs of the national defense industry. In 1970s, RIPP developed FCC Riser Process, Zeolitic FCC Catalysts, Semi-regeneration Reforming Process and Bi-metallic Reforming Catalysts that maintained the development of Chinese oil refining technology. In 1980s, RIPP developed Heavy Oil FCC Catalyst, USY Zeolite and REHY Zeolite, RN-1 Hydrotreating Catalyst, a series of Pt-Re Reforming Catalysts, SKI series catalysts for xylene isomerization, 100% Daqing atmospheric residue FCC technology, Needle Coke Production Technology, and High Power Tank Engine Oil, etc.. RIPP began to establish its own dominant technical areas, and many technologies approached the international level. RIPP played a key role in self-supporting the Chinese oil refining technologies and catalysts. In 1990s, RIPP developed FCC Family Technology among which DCC Technology won the only First Prize of National Technology Invention Award in the year of 1995, and realized the exportation of Chinese oil refining technology since then. Besides, RIPP developed New ZRP Zeolite, Combination Technology for Heavy Oil Processing, Medium Pressure Hydro-Upgrading (MHUG), Medium Pressure Hydrocracking Technology (RMC), Low Pressure Combined-bed Reforming Technology, Aromatics Extraction Technology with New Solvent, and special lubricant oil and grease applied in Shenzhou Series manned spaceships, missiles, satellites, naval vessels and amphibian armored cars. These technologies on the whole reached the international level, and some of them were among the advanced and even leading level in the world. Since then some technologies and products have been exported to the markets in Southeast Asia, Middle East, Europe and U.S.
 
Stepping into 21st century, facing with various challenges in Chinese oil refining industry such as production of clean oil products, adjustment of product structure and reduction of operating cost, RIPP analyzed the future development trends and expanded the research of related subjects in advance. RIPP has now successfully developed and commercialized many technologies in such areas like production of clean gasoline and diesel, heavy crude deep processing, increasing yields of light oil, and processing of sour crude, high total acid number (TAN) crude, heavy crude and refractory crude. These technologies not only support the development of the refining industry, also prepare RIPP with necessary technology inventory. Among them, FCC Series Catalyst for Gasoline Olefin Reduction (GOR) and New FCC Process for Maximum Production of Isoparaffins (MIP) have been widely applied in refineries, and have formed a whole set of technology for producing clean gasoline, which meets the features of Chinese refining units and possesses independent intellectual property. Thus, confronting great challenges, SINOPEC refineries accomplished gasoline quality upgrading in a comparatively short period with less investment and lower cost, and brought remarkable economic and social benefit as well.
 
In 2007, RIPP implemented and promoted the scientific outlook on development, exerted itself in constructing the platform for refining technology, persevered in providing technical support to the production and management of refining and petrochemical enterprises as well as offering scientific proof for the government and Sinopec on strategies and decisions, and enhanced its ability in independent innovation. Dr. Min Enze, member of both Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, was awarded the National Top Science and Technology Award of 2007; Development and Commercialization of Novel Technology of Extraction Distillation for Separation of Aromatics was awarded the Second Prize of National Science and Technology Advancement Award; 18 projects won Sinopec Science and Technology Advancement Awards and Technology Invention Awards. In this year, it has implemented the National Scientific and Technological Projects and the Sinopec R&D projects as well. The special type of lubricating grease has been successfully applied in Chang’e I Circumlunar Satellite. On Aug.16, 2007, Mr. Su Shulin, General Manager of Sinopec, paid a visit to RIPP. During his visit, he highly appraised the contribution made by RIPP to the Chinese refining industry in different historical periods, which greatly inspired and encouraged the RIPP employees. 
 
Facing the future and focusing on the development strategy of SINOPEC, RIPP shall continue to maintain and develop its innovative enterprise culture, i.e. "Advocating Science, Being Factualistic and Innovative". It will establish itself as a world-level energy R&D center mainly engaged in petroleum refining and in petroleum refining-petrochemical integration as well, thus it will endeavor to realize the Sound and Rapid Development as well as the sustainable development of SINOPEC, so as to compete with the world leading companies in both domestic and overseas market, and to provide effective technical support and services.
 
Contact us:
Address: 18 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, China
Postcode: 100083
Tel:  +86-10-62327551
Fax:  +86-10-62311290
Web Site: www.ripp-sinopec.com
Email: 914@ripp-sinopec.com