Kinetics of Gaseous Product Formation in the Coke Combustion of a Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Catalyst

Abstract

Combustion of the coke deposited on a commercial catalytic cracking catalyst is studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The conditions of the industrial operation in a fluidized catalytic cracking unit causing deactivation (feed, contact time, and temperature, C/O ratio) and those used for regeneration (catalyst stripping and temperature) have been reproduced. Combustion heat of coke is strongly dependent on combustion temperature and on deactivation severity (reaction conditions). Kinetic equations for the formation of gaseous combustion products, CO, CO2, and H2O, have been determined, which are useful in the design of industrial regenerators.