Correlating Metal Poisoning with Zeolite Deactivation in an Individual Catalyst Particle by Chemical and Phase‐Sensitive X‐ray Microscopy

Abstract

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is the main conversion process used in oil refineries. An X-ray microscopy method is used to show that metal poisoning and related structural changes in the zeolite active material lead to a non-uniform core–shell deactivation of FCC catalyst particles. The study links the detrimental effect of V and Ni poisoning with zeolite destruction and dealumination in a spatial manner within a single FCC catalyst particle.