# Refining catalysts: Feedstocks

Why Chinese lanthanum sits inside the world's refineries

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/feedstocks/

Why Chinese lanthanum sits inside the world's refineries What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

Refining catalysts use clay, silica and alumina in bulk and small amounts of high-value metals. Lanthanum sets FCC catalyst stability and cost; molybdenum, nickel and cobalt set hydroprocessing catalyst cost. Because most of these metals come from China or are by-products, makers pass metal costs through and compete on formulation and service, not on raw material access.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Zeo Zeolites](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zeolites/) | about 15-40% of FCC catalyst by weight (indicative) | cracking activity | not published | indicative |
| [Kao Kaolin & clays](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/clays/) | roughly half of FCC catalyst by weight (indicative) | matrix and filler | small | indicative |
| [REE Rare earths](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/rare_earths/) | about 1-3% rare earth oxide in FCC catalyst (indicative) | hydrothermal stability of zeolite | small normally; large in 2011 | rare_earths tile (20% of REO to catalysts) |
| [Mo Molybdenum](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/molybdenum/) | about 10-25% of hydroprocessing catalyst (indicative) | active hydrodesulphurisation phase | large share of hydroprocessing catalyst material cost (indicative) | molybdenum tile |
| [Ni Nickel](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/nickel/) | about 2-6% (indicative) | promoter (NiMo) | not published | indicative |
| [Co Cobalt](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cobalt/) | about 2-5% (indicative) | promoter (CoMo) | not published | indicative |
| [Pt Platinum](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/) | about 0.2-0.4% in reforming catalyst (indicative) | reforming metal, usually leased | metal owned by refiner | platinum tile |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

There is no public cost curve. Scale, owned zeolite technology and long refinery relationships favour Grace, BASF and Ketjen; Chinese makers are cheaper but sell mostly at home. Metal prices are passed through in hydroprocessing contracts.

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[Zeo Zeolites](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zeolites/)[REE Rare earths](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/rare_earths/)[Mo Molybdenum](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/molybdenum/)[Ni Nickel](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/nickel/)[Co Cobalt](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cobalt/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [C3H6 Propylene](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/propylene/) | FCC units with ZSM-5 additives are a major propylene source |
| [HVO Renewable diesel and SAF](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/hvo_saf/) | renewable fuels need hydroprocessing catalysts |
| [H2SO4 Sulphuric acid](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/) | sulphur removed by hydrotreating becomes refinery sulphur, much of it turned into acid |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/links/index.md)