UOP Timeline

1935	UOP's Catalytic Condensation process is commercialized. This polymerization process contributed greatly to the production of high-octane gasoline and aviation fuels.
1947	Start-up of first UOP-designed FCC unit. The unit's compactness and lower cost offered smaller refiners an opportunity to compete.
1947	UOP commercializes a process to make alkylbenzene, one of the building blocks of commercial laundry detergents.
1949	UOP commercializes the Platforming process for gasoline upgrading and the large-scale production of aromatics.
1949	Union Carbide develops and patents the first commercially significant synthetic molecular sieve zeolites, MOLSIV adsorbents. This portion of Union Carbide's business is now part of UOP.
1952	The Udex process is introduced (co-developed by UOP and Dow Chemical Company) to economically extract BTX from reformate. Combined naphtha reforming and aromatics extraction from reformate soon became the leading route to BTX.
1960	UOP's first Merox unit is sold. The Merox process removes odors caused by mercaptans from LPG, gasolines and kerosenes.
1964	UOP's Sorbex process, which simulates the countercurrent flow of a liquid feed over a solid bed of adsorbent, is commercialized.
1966	Union Carbide enters the gas separation and hydrogen purification business with the commercialization of the Polybed Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) system, pioneering the use of adsorbents, rather than solvents, to efficiently and economically produce high-purity hydrogen in quantity. This portion of Union Carbide's business is now part of UOP.
1971	UOP introduces the Parex process for the high efficiency separation of ultra-pure para-xylene.
1972	UOP introduces the CCR Platforming process for the uninterrupted production of lead-free gasoline and hydrogen.
1975	UOP signed first license contracts with China after being invited to discuss petrochemical projects in 1973.
1990	UOP's Oleflex process, a catalytic dehydrogenation technology for the production of light olefins from their corresponding paraffins, is commercialized. One application of the technology produces propylene from propane.
1991	UOP introduces new types of molecular sieves for environmentally safe non-CFC replacement refrigeration systems
1994	UOP acquires the Separex Membrane Division of Hoechst-Celanese and becomes a leading supplier of flat sheet spiral wound separation technology
1995	UOP buys Unocal's Process Technology Licensing business, acquiring key hydrocracking and hydrotreating technologies
1996	UOP becomes the exclusive licenser for THIOPAQ biological treating technologies, for cost-effective on-site treatment of sulfidic caustic effluent streams, in the refining and petrochemical industries.
1996	The Methanol to Olefins (MTO) process was offered for commercialization after its joint development with Norsk Hydro in 1992. The MTO process converts the methanol into ethylene and propylene.
1997	100th Chinese license agreement signed.
1997	UOP introduces the Alkylene process, which uses a solid catalyst to alkylate isobutane with light olefins (C3 to C5 range). The Alkylene process meets today's demand for both improved gasoline formulations and a more "environmentally friendly" light olefin upgrading technology.
1998	UOP LLC acquires Bayer's zeolite business, including what is now UOP's fifth manufacturing facility.
1999	UOP LLC acquires LaRoche Industries' aluminas business, thus adding an entirely new line of adsorbents to its portfolio.
2000	UOP enters into a unique strategic alliance with BP. As part of this agreement, UOP will collaborate to advance the overall effectiveness of BP refining processes with regard to planning, scheduling, operating, maintaining, and repairing refinery units and processing equipment.
2000	UOP LLC acquires SINCO Engineering, S.p.A. This acquisition expands UOP's capabilities to include PET resin sold state polymerization technology.
2002	UOP LLC launches Torial, a wholly-owned subsidiary to develop and provide state-of-the-art combinatorial chemistry tools and training to enable researches to discover, optimize and commercialize new materials at a faster rate and at a lower cost.
2006	UOP and Albemarle Corporation form an alliance to help bring cleaner fuels to hydroprocessing refiners.