Regeneración de catalizadores agotados de la unidad de Cracking Catalítico Fluidizado (FCC) de refinería, para su utilización en pirólisis catalítica

Abstract

This research work aims at the regeneration of exhausted catalysts for use in the thermal pyrolysis of plastics. Exhausted catalysts from the Refinery Fluidized catalytic cracking unit are sampled, which undergo a process of chemical and thermal regeneration, exhausted catalysts from the Refinery Fluidized catalytic cracking unit are sampled which undergo a process of chemical and thermal regeneration, treatments are proposed in which two types of solvents are analyzed, toluene and absolute ethanol, contact times with said solvents in the chemical process and thermal treatment in which there is a variation of two heating ramps to determine the optimal conditions based on the surface area of the regenerated catalyst. The regeneration process occurs through the elimination of water by drying afterward the sample is contacted with a solvent for a time of 12 or 14 hours to eliminate contaminants subsequently, it is filtered and dried for calcination in an estimated time of 20.5 or 22.5 hours that favors the subtraction of carbon from its composition. The regenerated catalyst obtained with the different treatment was subjected to physicochemical characterization through analysis tests. The variables were combined produce positive results so that the best treatment was with ethanol at contact time 12 hours and at calcination time 20.5 hours because its surface area was 96.56 m2 / g, the percentage of loss of 7, 88% and the removal of coke, sulfur, and other metals was high, in turn, it was determined three different processes to the one mentioned provided a greater surface area than obtained with the proposed regeneration but the conversion in the thermogravimetric analysis for the process of pyrolysis was deficient. The catalyst regeneration process provides a material ready for reuse in the plastics thermal pyrolysis process due to the properties obtained in the regeneration.