Magnetically separated equilibrium catalyst for specialized cracking

A process for the cascading of spent equilibrium catalyst from at least one first fluid catalytic cracking unit in which the catalyst contacts a first hydrocarbyl feed under cracking conditions to produce a first product having a lower average molecular weight as determined according to ASTM D-2887 than said first hydrocarbyl feed, said process comprising in combination:

• (a) removing at least a portion of said spent equilibrium catalyst from said at least one first fluid catalytic cracking unit;
• (b) subjecting at least a portion of said removed spent equilibrium catalyst to magnetic separation in which the spent catalyst which has accumulated amounts of metal contamination is separated into a lesser-metal-containing fraction, and a greater-metals-containing fraction;
• and
• (c) thereafter contacting at least a portion of said lesser-metal-containing fraction in a second fluid catalytic cracking unit with a second hydrocarbyl feed having a higher content of metals than said first hydrocarbyl feed, as determined by atomic absorption for nickel/iron/vanadium/copper, to produce a second product having lower average molecular weight than said second hydrocarbyl feed;
• and catalyst comprising additional metal contamination which enhances the activity and selectivity of the cracking process occurring in said second fluid catalytic cracking unit.