Zeolite Y synthesized with FCC spent catalyst fines: particle size effect on catalytic reactions

In this study, Y zeolite with different particle sizes was synthesized with fines of Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) spent catalyst. The effect of particle size on physicochemical properties of zeolite was systematically investigated. The results showed that zeolites synthesized via in situ crystallization technique exhibited large surface area, high relative crystallinity and high thermal stability. With a decrease of particle size of zeolite, both total acid density and B acid sites increased while acid L sites decreased. The cracking activity for heavy oil and coke resistance of ultrafine zeolite catalysts were enhanced. Of note is that the desulfurization capability of superfine zeolite catalyst was found to be much higher than that of industrial catalyst.