Refining catalysts: Characteristics
What refiners measure before trusting a new catalyst
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Refiners pick catalysts on performance in their own unit: activity, selectivity to petrol or propylene, resistance to nickel and vanadium poisoning and to attrition. Particle size and density decide how well FCC catalyst circulates.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Particle size | about 60-80 micron average for FCC (indicative) | fluidisation and cyclone retention | indicative |
| Rare earth content | about 1-3% REO (indicative); low-RE grades exist | zeolite stability in steam | indicative; policyrisk.com (REpLaCeR) |
| Attrition index | supplier-specific test | fines losses raise catalyst consumption and particulate emissions | indicative |
| Metal loading (hydroprocessing) | about 10-25% MoO3 plus 2-6% Ni or Co oxide (indicative) | desulphurisation activity | indicative |
Commercial grades
- Gas-oil FCC catalyst
- Resid FCC catalyst with metal traps
- ZSM-5 propylene additives
- Low or zero rare earth FCC
- CoMo for diesel hydrotreating
- NiMo for hydrocracker pretreat and renewable feeds
- Pt-Re reforming catalyst