AM-92-52 FLUID CRACKING CATALYST: AN OPERATING VARIABLE, NOT A COMMODITY

Description:

In the 50 years since the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process was introduced, the FCC catalyst has evolved from a homogeneous amorphous material to a complex mixture of zeolite and multifunctional matrix components. In the days prior to the introduction of zeolitic FCC catalysts, the catalyst was treated as a commodity, to be purchased from a low-cost, reliable supplier. Today's advanced products, which offer much higher activity and variable product selectivities, make the FCC catalyst one of the key independent operating variables in the FCC unit. Proper choice of the FCC catalyst can help the refiner overcome operating constraints, and allow the refiner to realize increased profits. By using FCC catalysts as an operating variable in a constrained unit, it is realistic for a refiner to achieve $0.50 or more per barrel of additional product value from the FCC even after paying for the incremental catalyst cost.