Research & Development
CRI conducts its styrene catalyst research at Shell's Westhollow Technology Center in Houston, Texas. Catalyst testing facilities include both isothermal and two- and three-stage adiabatic pilot plant test units for determining styrene catalyst activity, styrene yield, catalyst stability and byproduct formation. These facilities are used for the development of new catalysts, quality assurance testing, customer support projects, and testing for extended periods under commercial unit conditions to obtain reliable data for commercial performance predictions. The Westhollow Technology Center is also home to many other catalyst and chemical research groups and is supported by extensive analytical facilities, catalyst testing facilities, and expertise in areas such as statistics and process control, engineering, fluid flow dynamics, and metallurgy.