Abstract: | The vanadium trapping effect of Mg and La containing additives in cracking catalyst contaminated with 2300 ppm Ni and 4700 ppm V has been analyzed by microactivity test (MAT) and imaging secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The results of SIMS imaging are consistent with cracking activity data and show that the La/spinel is a superior vanadium trap for the fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons (FCC) operation. La/spinel serves as a dual function additive for both vanadium trap and SOx removal. The optimum amount of La/spinel added to the cracking catalyst is about 15% by weight. This results in an increased catalytic activity, an increase in gasoline yield, and a decrease in coke and gas factors. The MgAl2O4 phase of Mg/Al2O3 additive is found capable of trapping vanadium while its MgO of Mg/Al2O3 phase can migrate to zeolite particles (the active component of the FCC catalyst) that, in turn, causes a decline in the activity of that catalyst. |