Electron beam application for regeneration of catalysts used in refinery cracking units

Abstract

A catalyst is a substance that alters the rate of a reaction. The process of catalysis is essential to the modern day manufacturing industry, mainly in FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking) process units. However, long-term exploitation of oil and gas processing catalysts leads to formation of carbon- and sulfur-containing structures of coke and dense products on the catalyst surface. They block reactive catalyst sites and reduce the catalytic activity. The main advantage of radiation processing by EB (electron beam) and gamma rays is chain cracking reaction in crude oil. Otherwise, under exposure to ionize radiation, considerable structure modification of equilibrium silica-alumina catalyst from FCC process may occur, in addition to the removal of impurities. The conditions applied in the irradiation range (20-150 kGy) of gamma rays and EB were not sufficient to alter the structure of the catalyst, whether for removal of the contaminant nickel, a major contaminant of the FCC catalyst, either to rupture of the crystalline structure either for the future reutilization of chemical elements. ATR-FTIR (Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and EDXRFS (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry) analysis were used to characterize and evaluate effects of radiation processing on equilibrium catalysts purification. To evaluate and comprehend the reactive catalyst sites, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and particle size distribution analyses were carried out.