A novel test method for cracking catalysts

A novel microscale test method was developed for cracking catalysts. The pyrolysis unit was a commercial pyrolyser connected to a gas chromatograph. The injection port of the gas chromatograph was used as a fixed bed catalyst reactor.
The test method was applied to cracking pyrolysis vapours of Scots pine sawdust with zeolites. Cracking of vacuum gas oil on a commercial FCC catalyst was used as reference. Detection of reaction products was carried out with a mass selective detector to identify the compounds or with an atomic emission detector to quantify the various elements. The results, in agreement with the literature indicate that the microscale pyrolysis and vapour-phase catalyst reactor was suitable for screening catalysts. Pyrolysis vapours were converted mainly into gases and aromatic hydrocarbons with zeolites. The zeolite catalysts were effective in the removal of oxygen but the liquid yields were low.