Combination magnetic separation, classification and attrition process for renewing and recovering particulates
AssigneeAshland Oil, Inc.
InventorWilliam P. Hettinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optimized utilization of combinations of fluid catalyst magnetic separator, classifier, and/or attriter can be used to achieve lower catalyst cost, and better catalyst activity and selectivity through control of metal-on-catalyst, particle size and particle size distribution. This process is especially useful when processing high metal-containing feedstocks. This provides a catalyst recovery unit (RCU.TM.) ancillary to an FCC or similar unit.
Claims18
A multi-step process for recovering and reconditioning used metal-laden particulate comprising catalyst or sorbent, said process comprising:
- (a) passing metal-laden particulate from a hydrocarbon conversion process through magnetic separator means to separate out high metal, low activity particulate by magnetic means;
- and
- (b) passing said metal-laden particulate through a particle size classifier means so as to separate out larger particles, contaminated with metal;
- and/or
- (c) passing at least a portion of said larger particles to attriting means wherein said larger particles are reduced in size and metal content, cleansed of fines in said classifier means, and returned to the process.
A process for separating metal-laden particles comprising cracking catalyst or sorbent by particle size comprising:
- (a) depositing metal onto said particles over a period of time;
- and (b) thereafter separating said particles by passing said particles through magnetic separation means to separate relatively larger diameter particles which are less affected by said magnetic separation means from relatively smaller particles.
In a process for cracking hydrocarbons containing at least 1 ppm of nickel and vanadium and 1% Ramsbottom Carbon, in which process metal accumulates to at least 750 ppm of total metal on metal-laden cracking catalyst, the improvement comprising in combination:
- (a) passing metal-laden particulate from a hydrocarbon conversion process through magnetic separator means to separate out high metal, low activity particulate by magnetic means;
- and
- (b) passing said metal-laden particulate through a particle size classifier means so as to separate out larger particles, contaminated with metal;
- and/or
- (c) passing at least a portion of said larger particles to attriting means wherein said larger particles are reduced in size and metal content, cleansed of fines in said classifier means;
- and
- (d) recycling said larger particles to circulate in said process for cracking hydrocarbons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.