Multidimensional Reaction Control with Beta Type Zeolites in Heavy Oil Catalytic Cracking

Abstract

Residual feeds to the RFCC process could be well upgraded by catalyst containing FAU (USY) zeolite with higher hydrogen transfer activity, resulting in lower bottom and higher gasoline yields. However, the hydrogen transfer reaction has been shown to have negative aspects among the various reaction elements occurring simultaneously in the catalytic cracking process, because octane loss or coke formation were accelerated in most cases of inappropriate application of catalysts. Multifunctional catalyst was developed by adding beta (^*BEA) zeolite to RFCC catalyst, and resulted in improved octane number without sacrificing gasoline yield. Addition of ^*BEA zeolite to the RFCC catalyst maintained the octane number even in use of catalyst with high hydrogen transferring activity by further isomerizing single branched to multiple branched isoparaffins.