38
RFCC Catalysts for Chemical Feedstocks--TDA Research, Inc., 12345 W. 52nd Ave.,
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-1916;
303-940-2300; www.tda.com
Dr. Steven Gebhard,
Principal Investigator, gebhard@tda.com
Mr. John D. Wright, Business
Official, jdwright@tda.com
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-07ER84785
Amount: $100,000
Heavy
petroleum and tar sand bitumen reserves in the Western Hemisphere rival those
found in the Middle East, but they have higher concentrations of sulfur,
metals, and aromatics, which make them more expensive to process. One important area that has not been
extensively investigated is using these heavy petroleum resources for large
scale petrochemical production. This
project will develop technology to enhance the performance of fluid catalytic
cracking (FCC), which plays an integral role in the conversion of heavy feedstocks. The
approach will be based on a new type of catalyst, which was developed
previously for the FCC production of aromatics and olefins as petrochemical feedstocks. This
catalyst can be formulated as part of a standard FCC catalyst or it can be used
as a separate additive. In Phase I,
several catalysts will be prepared and characterized, and microactivity
tests will be performed. In Phase II,
the most promising catalysts identified will be tested in a bench-scale
reactor, and the catalyst formulation will be optimized. Then, the best catalyst will be evaluated in
a pilot scale test.
Commercial
Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The
new FCC catalysts should allow heavier FCC feedstocks
to be processed for the production of olefins and aromatics used in
petrochemical manufacture. The
petrochemical industry will be able to use heavier feeds, which will stimulate
increased use of