EXHAUSTED FLUID CATALYTIC CRACKING CATALYSTS AS RAW MATERIALS FOR LOW-SILICA ZEOLITE SYNTHESIS

Abstract

The utilization of Exhausted Fluid Catalytic Cracking Catalysts, (FCC), as  raw materials for the low-silica zeolite synthesis was analyzed. The FCC,  is  mainly composed aluminosilicates orders of up to 90%, and has a  chemical composition similar to that metakaolin. Therefore, the same synthesis parameters (Na2O/SiO2 and H2O/Al2O3 molar ratios, temperature and time), obtained in previous studies for obtaining zeolites from the thermal activation of a natural kaolin are used in the process. The zeolites obtained were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Cation Exchange Capacity was also determined. The results indicate that is possible to recover the FCC for obtaining zeolites type A, with Cation Exchange Capacity 341,47 mequiv/100g. The results obtained in this study provide an important perspective for the reusing of FCC in the production of zeolitic materials considering that in Colombia the zeolites are imported and are of high demand in the industrial sector. It should be noted that the exchange capacity of the zeolites obtained from kaolin by the same process parameters is 442 mequiv/100g, and zeolites imported for use in the domestic industry is 408 mequiv/100g.