AM-91-34 REFORMULATED GASOLINE: THE ROLE OF CURRENT AND FUTURE FCC CATALYSTS

Description:

While the composition of gasoline obtained from the FCCU is strongly influenced by the nature of the feedstock and operating severity, catalyst composition has a major impact. Within the context of current FCC catalyst technology, the role of key catalyst variables on gasoline composition are examined and related to the catalysts’ Hydrogen Transfer reactivity. These results demonstrate the feasibility of significant modifications in gasoline composition and increasing light olefins. The legislative approach to reformulated gasoline may force the refiner to consider radically changed operating conditions for the FCCU. Under these circumstances, the opportunity exists to utilize highly specialized catalysts which may be considerably more difficult and expensive to manufacture than conventional catalysts, but which can dramatically alter the normal FCCU selectivities. In this paper, the performance of some of these novel catalysts is compared to faujasite based FCC catalysts. The initial results from the Auto/Oil Air Quality Improvement Research Program (AQIRP) suggest that a catalyst that maximizes yields of light gasoline, increases olefins, and reduces aromatics could offer significant opportunities for the future FCCU. We believe that our new catalyst, RFG-lTM, will offer the refining industry just such an opportunity and may therefore open the door to a new era in FCCU operations.