No.16 Catalytic Cracking of Heavy Oil with Iron Oxide-Based Catalyst Using Steam as Hydrogen and Oxygen Sources

Abstract

Catalytic cracking of petroleum residual oil using steam was examined with iron oxide catalysts containing zirconia and alumina. Heavy oil was oxidatively decomposed with the catalyst, producing light oil and CO2. The amount of light oil produced using the zirconia-supporting iron oxide catalyst is larger than that in case of the iron oxide catalyst. Alkene/alkane ratio of light oil decreased with increasing zirconia content. The results suggest that large amount of oxygen species react with heavy oil and large amounts of hydrogen species could be added to light hydrocarbons because zirconia promotes the generation of these species from steam.