A novel fluid catalytic cracking approach for producing low aromatic LCO

Four FCC catalysts were compared in a CREC Riser Simulator reactor using an aromatic Brazilian VGO feed aiming at maximum low aromatic middle distillate production. Differences in activity were compensated by changes in the contact time. The first catalyst (A) was a maximum LCO commercial grade, the other three being experimental catalysts, including a pair of related materials in which one of the catalysts (M2) was produced by modulating the acidity of the other one (M1). Inert non porous silica was evaluated as a thermal cracking reference. The four catalysts were characterized as tested using temperature-programmed desorption of n-propylamine to determine their Brönsted acidity. The commercial catalyst A was by far the most acidic catalyst, followed by catalyst M1. Brönsted acidity of the two other catalysts M2 and B was about one tenth the value of catalyst A. Lowering the Brönsted acidity reduced catalyst activity, but it was possible to recover conversion by increasing reaction time, which was not the case with the thermal cracking reference. The yields of light naphtha and of aromatic hydrocarbons in the C10 and C11 range (inversely correlated to LCO Cetane) of the low acidity catalysts B and M2 was reduced by 30% and 50% respectively and LCO (C12 to C20 hydrocarbons) was increased by 33%, compared to catalyst A at the same slurry oil yield.

► New low Brönsted activity FCC catalyst evaluated for low aromatic LCO.
► Lower activity of the catalysts compensated with longer reaction time in the testing reactor.
► Lower aromatic LCO content demonstrated at constant Slurry oil yield.
► Brönsted activity reduction was the key factor in the observed change in selectivity.