Question
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What is the latest progress in FCC catalysis to boost bottoms upgrading?
Mar-2022
Answers
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Steven van Vegten, Albemarle, Steven.vanVegten@Albemarle.com
Bottoms upgrading capabilities are mainly determined by the catalyst’s accessibility, matrix activity level, and low coke selectivity. Two technological advances by Albemarle, Denali and RiFT, help refiners either minimise fuel oil production or seek additional bottoms upgrading capabilities, as we recognise feedstocks are becoming more difficult and grow in diversity.
Accessibility measures the ease of diffusion of high molecular weight feedstock to diffuse into the catalyst particle, reach active sites, and subsequently be cracked to more valuable products. Albemarle’s high accessibility catalyst technology delivers unhindered access to active sites, of which the active matrix plays a crucial role in bottoms upgrading. Albemarle’s latest RiFT matrix delivers enriched PoSD and supplementary acid sites, increasing total catalyst acidity by up to 20%, presenting favourable implications for bottoms cracking and hydrogen transfer.
Our next-generation USY zeolite technology, ZT-600, is a cutting-edge zeolite technology that provides multiple benefits and is employed in our Denali catalysts. One benefit is higher intrinsic zeolitic stability and retention, which provides a tool for extricating and controlling activity versus hydrogen transfer. In addition, acid sites have been optimised with less non-framework alumina for fewer undesired reactions, particularly lower coke and gas. Lastly, more mesoporosity has been incorporated to increase zeolitic contact with reactants and result in fewer secondary reactions owing to faster disengagement. Overall, Denali catalysts deliver improved yields, especially improved coke selectivity and more selective cracking of larger molecules to assist in bottoms cracking.
Mar-2022
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