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Tin passivates vanadium on FCC catalyst

Journal Article · · Oil Gas J.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6339247

The addition of antimony to fluid catalytic cracking catalysts successfully passivates the detrimental effects of nickel, but does little to counteract the deactivating effect of vanadium. Gulf Research and Development Co. (GR and DC) has developed technology using an additive containing tin which reduces both the deactivating and dehydrogenating effect of vanadium in feedstocks on fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. Use of this technology, which will be marketed by Nalco Chemical Co., will result in improved FCC yield structures and lower catalyst costs when cracking heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks. The nickel and vanadium present in heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks have drastically different effects on FCC catalyst activity and selectivity. Deposition of nickel on the cracking catalyst promotes dehydrogenation reactions, which result in the formation of coke and hydrogen and reduces gasoline yield. While dehydrogenation is also caused by the presence of vanadium on the catalyst, an even greater effect of vanadium poisoning is destruction of the zeolite portion of the catalyst by migration of the vanadium and resultant loss in catalyst activity. Several investigators have reported that the detrimental effects of nickel and vanadium deposited on a cracking catalyst can vary significantly. These results were obtained in a circulating FCC pilot plant by cracking a feedstock that was contaminated with vanadium and nickel compounds. From these ratios, it can be seen that nickel performs a stronger dehydrogenation function than vanadium. On the other hand, vanadium has a much larger effect on catalyst activity. This results in a significant loss in both unit conversion and gasoline yield.

Research Organization:
Gulf Research and Development Co., Pittsburgh, PA
OSTI ID:
6339247
Journal Information:
Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 82:29; ISSN OIGJA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English