The technology, named Albus-1, can produce carcinogenic-free naphthenic oils used in the synthetic rubber and tire industry, the company told Lube Report on Monday.

Used to manufacture oil-extended natural or synthetic rubber, low-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon extender oils are made from paraffinic and naphthenic distillates through either solvent extraction or hydrotreating.

The new unit expands the company’s current production of process oils that it markets under the Norman brand.

The raw materials used in Orgkhim’s new production are petrochemical wastes primarily coming from used aromatic extracts and virgin base oils. “The Albus technology can expand our current process oil production capacity to 130,000 t/y,” the company said.

The company positions itself on the forefront of marketing oil extracts and carcinogenic-free process oils in Russia. Biochemical holding company Orgkhim is among the globe’s 10 largest producers of process oils, according to consultancy Kline & Co., and until recently it was the only producer of such oils in Russia.

In 2017 oil major Gazprom Neft commissioned a 17,000 t/y process oil production plant at its refinery in Omsk, Western Siberia.

Orgkhim said that it is the main supplier of process oils to the large tire producers in Russia.

In addition to its plant in Uren, Orgkhim operates three production facilities in Vornoezh, the town of Lessosibisrk in the Krasnoyarsk region and Koryazhama in northern Russia. Its business falls into two main segments: petrochemicals and pine-derived chemicals. At its plant in Koryozhama, a 50-50 joint venture with pulp and paper company Ilim Group, the company produces tall oil fatty acids and their derivatives. The acids can be used to make metalworking fluids, corrosion inhibitors and industrial lubricants.

Orgkhim also produces white oils used in pharmaceutical and cosmetics.