Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing a coating, such as a spent catalyst coating, from a carrier such as a metal plate or a honeycomb carrier. The metal plates have a surface which has the catalyst coating. The honeycomb is of the type having a plurality of channels defined by honeycomb walls, the honeycomb walls the having a coating thereon. The method comprises directing a fluid stream which can comprise a cleaning liquid at the coated plate surface or into the honeycomb channels with sufficient force to loosen and remove at least some of the coating from the carrier surface. The carrier can then be separated from the liquid and dried. Where additional coating is to be removed, a stream of gas is directed at the carrier surface with sufficient force to loosen and remove at least some of the coating. The cleaned carrier can then be recoated. The present invention includes reclaimed and recoated articles.

Abstract: A zeolite catalyst composition is provided in which a first or upstream zone of the catalyst has a lower metal (e.g., iron or copper) promoter loading than the metal promoter moter loading of the second or downstream zone of the catalyst. The first zone may contain from none up to about 1 percent by weight of the promoter and the second zone may contain from about 1 to 30 percent by weight promoter. The zeolite may be any suitable zeolite, especially one having a silica-to-alumina ratio of about 10 or more, and a kinetic pore size of about 7 to about 8 Angstroms with such pores being interconnected in all three crystallographic dimensions. The method of the invention provides for passing a gaseous stream containing oxygen, nitrogen oxides and ammonia sequentially through first and second catalysts as described above, the first catalyst favoring reduction of nitrogen oxides and the second catalyst favoring the oxidation or other decomposition of excess ammonia.

Abstract: The present invention features the use of a particulate sorbent and a particulate FCC catalyst, which are physically separable, sequentially in the same FCC riser, followed by separation of commingled spent catalyst and sorbent particles from vapors, and the subsequent primary partial regeneration and heat up of spent sorbent particles and catalysts particles in an oxygen deficient burning zone, followed by physical separation of partially regenerated catalyst and sorbent particles, preferably using a cyclonic classifier to effect the separation. This is followed by secondary regeneration of the resulting segregated partially regenerated sorbent and catalyst streams in oxygen rich combustion zones to fully regenerate sorbent and catalyst particles.

Abstract: A sulfur-resistant CO, hydrocarbon and SO.sub.x oxidation catalyst is provided comprising silica particles which have been coated with titania or zirconia or precursors thereof and which have deposited thereon a precious metal such as platinum. The coated silica catalyst can be included in a washcoat for application to a ceramic honeycomb carrier.

Abstract: A catalytic composition for use in fluid catalytic cracking has an effective heat capacity of at least about 0.29 BTU/lb. .degree.F. over the range from 950.degree. F. to 1300.degree. F. The composition may include microspheres containing in situ crystallized Y-faujasite and fluidizable particles consisting essentially of dimagnesium borate. The catalytic composition may include a heat retention component selected from the group consisting of dimagnesium borate, aluminum borate, magnesium tetraborate, magnesium orthoborate, lithim aluminum borate, lithium magnesium borate, lithium aluminum silicate, and lithium aluminate.

Abstract: The present invention features the use of a particulate sorbent and a particulate FCC catalyst, which are physically separable, sequentially in the same FCC riser, followed by separation of commingled spent catalyst and sorbent particles from vapors, and the subsequent primary partial regeneration and heat up of spent sorbent particles and catalysts particles in an oxygen deficient burning zone, followed by physical separation of partially regenerated catalyst and sorbent particles, preferably using a cyclonic classifier to effect the separation. This is followed by secondary regeneration of the resulting segregated partially regenerated sorbent and catalyst streams in oxygen rich combustion zones to fully regenerate sorbent and catalyst particles.

Abstract: A zeolite catalyst composition is provided in which a first or upstream zone of the catalyst has a lower metal (e.g., iron or copper) promoter loading than the metal promoter loading of the second or downstream zone of the catalyst. The first zone may contain from none up to about 1 percent by weight of the promoter and the second zone may contain from about 1 to 30 percent by weight promoter. The zeolite may be any suitable zeolite, especially one having a silica-to-alumina ratio of about 10 or more, and a kinetic pore size of about 7 to about 8 Angstroms with such pores being interconnected in all three crystallographic dimensions. The method of the invention provides for passing a gaseous stream containing oxygen, nitrogen oxides and ammonia sequentially through first and second catalysts as described above, the first catalyst favoring reduction of nitrogen oxides and the second catalyst favoring the oxidation or other decomposition of excess ammonia.

Abstract: A novel improved process for maunfacturing fluid cracking cataylsts by an in situ procedure. Sodium zeolite Y (synthetic faujasite) is crystallized in pores of a physical mixture of preformed, highly porous precursor microspheres, one portion of the microspheres is composed of metakaolin and the other portion of the mixture of microspheres being composed of kaolin calcined to undergo the exotherm (the latter somethimes being referred to as spinel calcined clay or simply spinel). In particular, by the present invention the precursor microspheres have enhanced porosity (e.g., 0.3 to 0.5 cc/g as measured by mercury porosimetry) and are obtained by spray drying a slurry of hydrous (raw) kaolin clay which is characterized by presence of a major amount of large (plus 2 micron) kaolin stacks, which when spray dried, result in microspheres having the desired high content of macropores in which zeolite Y can grow. Relatively high levels of metakaolin containing microspheres are used in the synthesis.

Abstract: A process for treating heavy hydrocarbon oil which contains metals and/or sulfur in the presence of a catalyst and recovering a hydrocarbon product having reduced metals and/or sulfur content by employing a metal impregnated mullite catalyst. The impreganted metals are selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, molybdenum and tungsten. The mullite supporting bodies are prepared by calcining bodies of kaolin clay until the clay is converted to mullite and free silica, leaching the resulting bodies of mullite and silica with an alkaline aqueous solution to remove the silica, washing the leached clay bodies to remove alkali ions, and drying.

Abstract: An improved process for ion-exchanging sodium ions in particles containing sodium form zeolite crystals and sodium silicate. The process involves an initial ion-exchange at pH about 4.5 to 5.0 with an ammonium salt followed by exchange with an ammonium salt at about pH 2.0 to 3.5. Cracking catalysts having improved cracking activity are produced.

Abstract: Clay convertible by thermal treatment into crystalline mullite and silica is formed into green coherent bodies of desired size and shape such as, for example, microspheres, pellets or honeycombs. The bodies are then calcined to convert the clay into a mixture of crystalline mullite and silica, thereby also hardening the bodies. Without destroying the form of the bodies, e.g., without grinding and without causing the bodies to decrepitate, pores in the size range of about 150 to 350 A are formed by selectively leaching silica from the bodies. The porous mullite bodies retain porosity at elevated temperatures and are useful, for example, as catalyst supports and contact materials. Pore structure in the meso- (100-600 A diameter) and macro- (600-20,000 A diameter) size ranges may be controlled.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel catalyst products for promoting the combustion of carbon monoxide, particularly in catalytic cracking units, especially FCC units. The improved products of the invention comprise one or more catalytically active metals selected from the group consisting of palladium or mixtures of palladium and at least one other precious metal on a porous silica-alumina support obtained by leaching sufficient silica from shaped particles of calcined clay with caustic solution to impart porosity to the particles. The calcined clay from which silica is leached to impart porosity is preferably kaolin clay that has been calcined at a temperature and for a time sufficient to substantially convert the clay into mullite and silica, whereby the support particles consist essentially of mullite crystals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst comprising a blend of a catalytically active first component and a second component for reducing the emissions of oxides of sulfur from the regenerator of a catalytic cracking unit and the use of that catalyst to crack sulfur containing petroleum feedstocks. The catalytically active first component contains Y-faujasite zeolite and comprises about 10-70% by weight, preferably about 25-50% by weight, of the catalyst. The second component of the catalyst comprises about 30-90% by weight, preferably about 50-75% by weight, of the catalyst. The second component comprises fluidizable particles containing at least about 70% by weight, preferably at least about 90% by weight, alumina and having an equilibrium surface area in the range of about 40-100 m.sup.2 /g., preferably in the range of about 50-90 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: Clay, preferably kaolin, is calcined through its exotherm, but without substantial mullite formation (e.g., 1 hour at 1000.degree. C.). The calcined clay is leached with an alkaline aqueous solution to remove (i.e., leach) silica. The severity of leaching, i.e., amount of silica removed, determines whether the final product will comprise mullite plus excess Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. If the molar Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 ratio is <3/2 the final product will contain mullite plus excess SiO.sub.2 and if the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 ratio is >3/2, the final product will contain excess Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. The leached clay is washed, preferably under acid conditions at about pH 3-5, to remove excess alkali ions; and then dried. The washed clay is then calcined at conditions to produce mullite (e.g., 3 hours at 1250.degree. F.). Materials made in this manner exhibit high pore volume despite the final high temperature heat treatment.

Abstract: Co-product fines from the manufacture of zeolitic cracking catalysts from microspheres of calcined clay have heretofore been discarded as a waste stream. These fines, recovered as a moist cake, are slurried in a sodium silicate solution, spray dried to form microspheres and ion-exchanged initially at high pH and then at lower pH to produce attrition-resistant cracking catalysts which produce low levels of coke during use.

Abstract: By-product fines from the manufacture of zeolitic cracking catalysts from microspheres of calcined clay have heretofore been discarded as a waste stream. These fines, recovered as a moist cake, are slurried in a sodium, silicate solution, spray dried to form microspheres and ion-exchanged to produce cracking catalysts which produce low levels of coke during use.

Abstract: This application discloses novel fluid catalytic cracking catalysts comprising microspheres containing more than about 40%, preferably 50-70%, by weight Y-faujasite zeolite, methods for making such catalysts, and the use of such catalysts to crack petroleum feedstocks, particularly those containing large amounts of contaminant metals. The microspheres of the catalyst of the invention are characterized by a combination of desirable catalytic and physical characteristics, including exceptionally high activity, excellent hydrothermal stability, good to excellent attrition resistance, and desirable selectivity characteristics.

Abstract: Anhydrous alumina powder, preferably powdered alpha-alumina, is formed into a high solids slurry in water containing one or more soluble compounds that yield Na.sub.2 O when heated in air, preferably a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium nitrate, and optionally containing one or more soluble compounds that will yield lithium oxide, magnesium oxide or mixtures thereof, when heated in air. The slurry is rapidly dried, preferably by spraying in air, to precipitate the metal oxide precursor(s) and form an intimate substantially homogeneous mixture with the anhydrous alumina particles. This precursor powder is pressed into a shaped article, and heated to decompose the source(s) of metal oxide, react the components to form the desired beta-alumina phase, and sinter the article to produce the dense polycrystalline beta-alumina.