Nanotechnological characterization of allofanite and faujasite (Y-faujasite) catalysts and comparing with a commercial FCC catalyst (X-zeolite)

Abstract

We studied the synthesis variables of the faujasite using natural clinker of the Cotopaxi volcano, and allophane (allofanite) from the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas as raw materials, as well as their physicochemical properties and their influence on the catalytic efficiency for Ecuadorian oil and asphalt. The synthesized materials were subjected to laboratory tests, like thermogravimetric characterization, BET area, FTIR, chemisorption and AFM. Tests of catalytic activity in crude oil and asphalt with different °API and percentage of Sulfur showed ranges of optimal efficiency. These ranges contributed to obtain a logistic regression model with min. 90% accuracy, which was entered into a confusion matrix. This function can be optimized in the intervals of each of the variables of any refinery. It is concluded that the logistic regression model for catalytic efficiency is sensitive to changes in the amount of faujasite and allophane (allofanite) in the catalytic cracking process. In the same way, a fundamental dependence of the surface area (BET) was found, which for the case of allophane is formed in contribution of each of the nanopores whose size is in the order of 3 to 5 nm, while the faujasite has nanopore sizes from 17 to 35 nm.

Keywords

• natural clinker
• faujasite
• allophane (allofanite)
• nanopores
• catalytic efficiency
• logistic regression