Separation of Toluene-Insoluble Solids in the Slurry Oil from a Residual Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit: Determination of the Solid Content and Sequential Selective Separation of Solid Components

Abstract

Removing solid impurities inside slurry oil from residual fluidized catalytic cracking (RFCC) is critical for efficient use of its aromatic hydrocarbons, and selective separation of the solid components is also an important issue of recycling valuable resources for catalyst and carbon material. Different separation methods were employed to isolate the solids and their components in the slurry oil from a RFCC unit, and the resultant solids and components were comprehensively characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, etc. Results show that the content of toluene-insoluble solids in the slurry oil varies from separation methods employed. The solid components, i.e., catalyst particles and coke powders, can be sequentially separated, and the choice of an appropriate separation method is critical for accurate determination of the solid content in a RFCC slurry oil...