The fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process employs a well fluidized catalyst that is continually added and withdrawn. The catalyst cracks crude oil into valuable products, including transportation fuels and petrochemical feedstocks. Crude oils introduce a number of contaminant metals into the FCC unit and thus onto the FCC catalyst. The nature of metal deposition and mobility within the FCC catalyst circulating inventory play an integral part in the optimal strategy for mitigation. Metals described in this contribution include traditional contaminants, Ni and V, but also non-traditional contaminants, Fe and Ca. With respect to zeolite, these contaminants either poison or limit access to zeolite; e.g., V is a strong zeolite poison, while Fe and Ca can interact to block access to zeolite crystal in FCC catalyst. The mobility and/or deposition of contaminant metals is investigated via numerous novel techniques, including sink float separation, magnetic separation, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with ImageJ, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. ImageJ analysis allows for fast paced analytical evaluation of SEM images. These tools allow for the quantification of metal mobility, which enables the identification of a proper and robust mitigation strategy.

Novel tools for metal contamination and mobility investigations on fluid catalytic cracking catalysts

254th National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.