Structure and acidity of individual Fluid Catalytic Cracking catalyst particles studied by synchrotron-based infrared micro-spectroscopy

► Infrared micro-spectroscopy enables the study of individual cracking catalyst particles. ► Structural changes in the zeolite and clay component are observed upon deactivation. ► Industrial deactivation protocols lead to a decrease in Brønsted and Lewis acidity. ► Equilibrium catalysts display large heterogeneities in acidity.