Increasing FCC

propylene yield

Rudolf Látka, Vladimír Oleríny and Norbert Kováč, Slovnaft

Tom Ventham, Johnson Matthey Process Technologies

2

Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

A new 22000 bpd FCC unit was

constructed by Slovnaft in 1999. Slovnaft

is Slovakia’s only modern, fully integrated

refin ery. The FCC processes mainly

hydrotreated VGO feed with typical

unit objec tives of LPG and gasoline

production. High value LPG components

are sought for downstream processes

such as polypropylene, ETBE and

alkylation. The FCC limitation is typi cally

found in the gas concentration section

(LPG Merox, C3 splitter).

FCC propylene study

In 2014 Slovnaft investigated

modifications to increase propylene

production. The typical propylene yield

from the Bratislava refinery FCC unit is

approximately 6 wt% on a fresh feed

basis. Industry experience has shown

standard FCC units with VGO feed are

typically capable of producing up to

10-12 wt% propylene by implementing

relatively simple techniques that

maximise gasoline overcracking to LPG

and retain olefinicity.

Slovnaft performed a signifi cant

amount of research in this area and

identified several options that could

increase propylene output from the

FCC unit. The company decided to take

a stepwise approach by performing

tests to determine the capabilities and

sensitivities of methods to define the

opti mum strategy to be implemented.

This research concluded that the most

effective way for Slovnaft to increase

FCC propylene yield would be the use of

a high activity ZSM-5 additive.

Propylene market demands

Slovnaft was pursuing methods to

elevate propylene production because

of the worldwide market trend of

increased propylene demand and value.

The drive for propylene is mainly to

satisfy petrochemical industry demands,

especially growth in polypropylene

demand (see Figures 1 and 2).1,2

Based on 2011 data, approximately

68% of refinery produced propylene is

supplied to the chemicals industry.3 Of

the chemical industry’s total propylene

requirement of 109 million t/y, 35%

is produced by refinery processes (of

which the FCC process itself accounts

for 97%), 57% is produced by steam

crackers and 8% by ‘on-purpose’

propylene processes (see Figure 3).3

Propylene demand is expected to

continue to increase by almost 5% a

year, with new propylene production

capacity not expected to keep up with

this demand growth, resulting in the

appearance of a ‘propylene gap’.3

Supply-side effects are also impacting

this situation. In China, demand is

outstripping investment in traditional

sources of propylene production, and

in North America, the shift to shale

gas based ethane feedstocks for

steam crackers has reduced propylene

generation from this traditional source

of the commodity. This trend is expected

to be observed in Europe too as imports

of American shale gas to European

steam crack ers will add to the propylene

imbalance.4 Although various propylene

on-demand projects will look to fill this

propylene gap, there will be a lag before

this extra supply is realised. In addition,

3

A test run with ZSM-5 additive demonstrated to a refinery that it could

significantly raise production of propylene in the FCC

Increasing FCC propylene yield

Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

Others

Acrylonitrileproduction

Propylene oxide

Polypropylene production

Figure 1 Industrial uses of propylene1

60

100

90

80

70

50

40

30

20

10

Mar

ket

volu

me, m

illio

n t

ons

0

Films

Textiles

Others

Injection moulding

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

55.83

Figure 2 Projected polypropylene market growth 2012-20222

4

Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

many of these projects will be sensitive to

commodity and crude oil prices as well

as political and environ mental pressures

that are apparent in the regions where

many of these projects are located, such

as China. The FCC unit remains a flexible

and cost-effective method for increasing

propylene production to fill the demand

gap.

ZSM-5 test run plans

The additive chosen by Slovnaft

for this test run was Intercat

SUPER Z EXCELTM supplied by Johnson

Matthey. Designed for high propylene

FCC operations, SUPER Z EXCEL has

high activity and stability, resulting

in the efficient generation of propylene.

In cooperation with Johnson Matthey,

Slovnaft developed an estimate

to anticipate the yield and octane

improvements that would be observed

when adding SUPER Z EXCEL (see

Table 1).

The main yield shift expected was an

increase in the propyl ene yield followed

by a boost in butylenes yield. The yield of

isobutane was also expected to increase.

Although ZSM-5 only produces olefins,

because isobutene is the most readily

saturated LPG molecule via hydrogen

transfer, isobutane yield also increases

with ZSM-5 due to the secondary effect

of converting some of the produced

isobutylene via hydrogen transfer on the

main catalyst.

It was predicted that, following the

increase in LPG, the net yield reduction

would be from gasoline. Although the

estimate shows a small reduction in

LCO yield this is due to the reported

low gasoline/LCO cutpoint at Slovnaft

being below the standard 221°C cutpoint

(gasoline 90% boiling point being

170°C). An unchanged bottoms yield

was predicted as ZSM-5 only cracks

molecules found in lighter intermediate

product ranges. There is also no change

expected in the coke yield, as ZSM-5 is

heat balance neutral, so will not typically

alter the coke requirements of the

system.

As part of this estimate an addition

plan was developed (see Table 2) for

loading the additive over the course of

the test run. This started with a base

load phase during the first seven days to

quickly boost the additive concentration

to the working level. Following the base

load, a maintenance dose regime was

planned to preserve the correct level of

ZSM-5 activ ity for the remainder of the

test run period.

Due to unrelated disturbances in

upstream units during the initial stages

of the test run Slovnaft were not able

to precisely follow the planned loading

protocol. However, sufficient amounts of

SUPER Z EXCEL were added to attain

the concentrations needed to observe

yield responses.

ZSM-5 is a fast acting addi tive,

meaning yield changes can typically be

seen after the first week of addition.

The octane improvement with ZSM-5

requires the full concentration of the

additive to be present at steady state to

determine the entire benefit.

LPG yield effects

When SUPER Z EXCEL additions to

the FCC unit began, the propylene yield

responded almost immediately. Figure 4

shows the change in propylene yield as

ZSM-5 was introduced.

Slovnaft estimated that the typical

FCC propylene yield without ZSM-5 was

averaging 6 wt% prior to the start of the

test run. As ZSM-5 was added in base

load, with over 2.5 tonnes of additive

added in the first four days of the test

run, the propylene response was major,

with propylene yield exceeding 9 wt%

in the first week. This represents a 50%

increase.

On-demand processes8%

Steam crackers57%

Refinery processes(97% from FCC)35%

Figure 1 Industrial uses of propylene1

SUPER-Z EXCEL in FCC unit, wt%

FCC gasoline octane boost

RON gain

MON gain

Yield shifts, %C

2 or lighter, wt% / vol%

C3=, wt% / vol%

C3, wt% / vol%

Total C4=s, wt% / vol%

iC4=, wt% / vol%

nC4=, wt% / vol%

nC4, wt% / vol%

4iC , wt% / vol%

Gasoline, wt% / vol%

LCO, wt% / vol%

Bottoms, wt% / vol%

Coke, wt% / vol%

2.5%

1.3

0.5

No change

1.7 / 3.0

No change

1.0 / 1.5

0.3 / 0.4

0.7 / 1.0

No change

0.5 / 0.8

-3.0 / -3.7

-0.1 / -0.1

No change

No change

5.0%

1.9

0.8

No change

2.9 / 5.2

No change

1.7 / 2.6

0.5 / 0.8

1.2 / 1.8

No change

0.8 / 1.3

-5.2 / -6.4

-0.3 / -0.2

No change

No change

7.5%

2.2

0.9

No change

3.8 / 6.6No change

2.2 / 3.3

0.6 / 1.0

1. / 2.3

No change

1.0 / 1.7

-6.7 / -8.2

-0.3 /- 0.3

No change

No change

Projections of SUPER Z EXCEL performance at Slovnaft

Table 1

5

A constant ZSM-5 addition rate

followed the base load, leading to

a gradual increase in the inventory

concentration. The addition rate was

increased again towards the end of the

test run, leading to a second propylene

yield peak above 9 wt%. When the

test run ended, the ZSM-5 concentra-

tion decayed along with the propylene

yield, with the propylene half-life of

SUPER Z EXCEL measured to be in the

range of 23 days. The propylene yield

remained above the base line for six

weeks, falling to only 7 wt% at the end of

the data set compared to the base line

of 6 wt%. This shows that residual ZSM-

5 activity was still present six weeks after

the final addition. Based on the period

when ZSM-5 concentration exceeded

5 wt% in the inventory to the final day

of additions, the average propylene yield

reached 8.9 wt%, or a 47% increase on

the base line.

It was also observed that the total

LPG yield (see Figure 5) increased when

ZSM-5 was intro duced to the FCC unit

and continued to climb for the rest of

the test run as ZSM-5 concentra tion

increased. By the end of the test run,

the total LPG yield increased 7 wt%

compared to the pre-test run base

line. It was expected that the total LPG

increase would be made up of 55-

60% propylene and 45-40% butylene

with some satu ration of produced

isobutylene via hydrogen transfer on the

main catalyst.

Unfortunately, due to the short

duration of this test run, steady state

was not reached. After additive additions

were stopped, LPG yield declined as

the activity of the ZSM-5 present in

the inventory decayed. Although the

abruptness of the decay appears

dramatic this only repre sents a partial

decay of the most active part of the

ZSM-5 cracking functionality. When

Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

2.5% 5.0% 7.5%

30 61 94

310 630 950

190

370

570

170

330

510

130 260

400

SUPER Z EXCEL in FCC unit, wt%

SUPER Z EXCEL Additions

Steady state, kg /day

Accelerated policy

Day 1, kg/day

Days 2 and 3, kg /day

Days 4 and 5, kg /day

Days 6 and 7, kg /day

Days 8+, kg /day

30

61

94

SUPER Z EXCEL addition protocol for Slovnaft test run

Table 2

8

9

10

7

6Pro

pyl

en

e y

ield

,

wt%

5

6

8

10

4

2

SZE

co

nce

ntr

ati

on

,

wt%

0

28/10/2

014

17/11/2

014

7/12/2

014

27/12/2

014

16/1/2

015

15/4/2

015

25/2//2

015

SZE concentration

Propylene

Start StopSUPER Z EXCEL

SZE concentration

Propppylylylene

Figure 4 Propylene yield on a mass feed basis

29

27

25

23

21LPG

yie

ld, w

t%

19

1/1/2

014

2/3/2

014

1/5//2

014

30/6/2

014

29/8/2

014

28/10/2

014

27/12/2

014

25/2/2

015

Start Stop

SUPER Z EXCEL

Shutdown

Start-up

Figure 5 Total LPG (all C3 and C

4 components) yield on a mass feed basis

25

29

27

23

21

LPG

yie

ld, w

t%

19

600

1000

800

1200

400

200 LPG

yie

ld, kg/d

ay

0

28/10/2

014

17/11/2

014

7/12/2

014

27/12/2

014

16/1/2

015

5/2/2

015

25/2/2

015

SZE additions

LPG yield

Start StopSUPER Z EXCEL

Figure 6 Total LPG yield on a mass feed basis and ZSM-5 addition rate

6

Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

analys ing the decay, it was noticed that

the ZSM-5 deactivates in two stages.

The first decay is of the component in

ZSM-5 chiefly responsible for producing

high quantities of propylene. This is

the most active or highest acidity part

of ZSM-5, which deactivates most

rapidly, resulting in the LPG decrease

observed immedi ately following the

end of SUPER Z EXCEL additions. The

second component of ZSM-5 activity is

of lower interstitial acidity and is hence

more stable. This secondary ZSM-5

activity mainly produces butylenes and

deactivates more slowly, mean ing the

total LPG yield remained well above the

base line level due to this residual activity

still being present in the weeks after

additive additions were stopped.

Testing unit response to sudden

ZSM-5 additive additions

Part of the plan was to test the

response of the FCC unit to large,

sudden additions of ZSM-5 additive.

Three tests were run where spikes of

high ZSM-5 additions of more than 500

kg/day were made (see Figure 6). The

initial spike was part of the base load of

SUPER Z EXCEL. The second two spikes

were used by Slovnaft to test the unit

response to high ZSM-5 additions as the

test run neared its conclusion. In each

of these three cases, the response of

increasing LPG yield was clearly visible.

It was noted that, as expected,

propane yield did not increase

significantly with SUPER Z EXCEL (see

Figure 7). ZSM-5 does not directly

increase propane yield as the chemistry

only allows for the generation of olefins.

However, a small frac tion of the propylene

produced by ZSM-5 can be saturated to

propane via hydrogen transfer on the

FCC main catalyst. This reaction is very

slow, so only a small increase in propane

was observed.

1.6

1.91.81.7

1.51.41.31.21.1P

rop

an

e y

ield

,

wt%

0

1/1/2

014

2/3/2

014

1/5//2

014

30/6/2

014

29/8/2

014

28/10/2

014

27/12/2

014

25/2/2

015

Start Stop

SUPER Z EXCEL

ShutdownStart-up

Figure 7 Propane yield on a mass feed basis

Figure 10 Iso-butane and n-butane yields on a mass feed basis

Figure 9 Iso-butylene and n-butylene yields on a mass feed basis

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

1.6Iso

-bu

tyle

ne

yield

, vo

l%

1.4

7.5

7.0

6.5

6.0

5.5

No

rmal-

bu

tyle

ne

yield

, vo

l%

5.0

1/1/2

014

2/3/2

014

1/5//2

014

30/6/2

014

29/8/2

014

28/10/2

014

27/12/2

014

25/2/2

015

n-C 4

i-C 4 Start Stop

SUPER Z EXCEL

ShutdownStart-up

4

2

8

6

4

n-C 4

6.5

7.0 1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

No

rmal-

bu

tan

e

yield

, vo

l%

0.8

6.0

5.5

5.0

4.5

4.0Iso

-bu

tan

e y

ield

, vo

l%

3.5

1/1/2

014

2/3/2

014

1/5//2

014

30/6/2

014

29/8/2

014

28/10/2

014

27/12/2

014

25/2/2

015

n-C4

i-C4 Start Stop

SUPER Z EXCEL

ShutdownStart-up

5

0

5

0

5

0

5

Figure 8 C3 olefinicity defined at propylene yield/propane yield

6.5

7.0

6.0

5.5

5.0

4.5

4.0

C3 o

lefi

nic

ity

3.5

1/1/2

014

2/3/2

014

1/5//2

014

30/6/2

014

29/8/2

014

28/10/2

014

27/12/2

014

25/2/2

015

Start Stop

SUPER Z EXCEL

Shutdown

Start-up

LPG olefinicity effects

By increasing propylene yield without

a major change in propane yield, an

increase in C3 olefinicity was clearly

observed (see Figure 8) as the test run

progressed. This olefinicity increase was

another way Slovnaft measured ZSM-5

effectiveness and was another proof that

the propylene yield increase was due to

the addition of SUPER Z EXCEL and not

the result of an increase in conversion or

a shift to a more crackable feed.

Slovnaft also observed changes in

the C4 yield structure (see Figure 9), with

a higher yield of butylenes with ZSM-5.

Although ZSM-5 produces significant

amounts of unsatu rated C4 material,

less saturated material is directly

produced (see Figure 10). A common

observation when using ZSM-5 is that

a portion of the iso-bu tylene produced

becomes saturated to iso-butane via

hydrogen transfer on the main catalyst.

A noteworthy increase in iso-butane was

not observed during this test run due

to low rare earth on fresh catalyst (~1

wt% rare earth oxide), resulting in weak

hydrogen transfer capabilities.

Slovnaft also noticed that conversion

in the ETBE unit improved as a result

of an increase in the amount of isobu-

tylene fed to the unit originating from

the FCC unit. These secondary indicators

of increased LPG olefins produc-

tion from the FCC unit when using

SUPER Z EXCEL gave Slovnaft further

confidence in the benefits using such an

addi tive can give.

ZSM-5 additive effect on FCC

conversion

A concern often expressed by

refiners who are unfamiliar with the

use of ZSM-5 additives is whether the

addition of large amounts of ZSM-5 will

cause dilution of the main FCC catalyst,

and cause a loss in FCC conversion. This

was moni tored very closely by Slovnaft,

and it was observed that conversion

did not vary signifi cantly (see Figure 11)

during the test run period, demonstrating

no negative effects on unit conversion

through use of the additive.

Feed quality is a very strong driver

of conver sion at Slovnaft. As conversion

was at the low end (~75 wt%) of the

normal conversion range (75-85 wt%),

this indicates the feed quality during

the test run period was poor. Poor feed

quality and low unit conversion would

normally result in low LPG yields without

the presence of active ZSM-5. Poor feed

quality may also result in a reduction in

the presence of crackable mate rial in

the gasoline range for ZSM-5 to convert

7Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

84

88

86

82

80

78

76

74

Un

it c

on

vers

ion

,

wt%

72

1/1/2

014

2/3/2

014

1/5//2

014

30/6/2

014

29/8/2

014

28/10/2

014

27/12/2

014

25/2/2

015

Start Stop

SUPER Z EXCEL

Shutdown

Start-up

Figure 11 Unit conversion (100-LCO-DCO)

0.66

0.720.700.68

0.640.620.600.580.56

Gaso

line c

on

v.,

wt%

/wt%

0.54

1/1/2

014

2/3/2

014

1/5//2

014

30/6/2

014

29/8/2

014

28/10/2

014

27/12/2

014

25/2/2

015

Start Stop

SUPER Z EXCEL

Shutdown

Start-up

Figure 12 Gasoline selectivity (gasoline yield/conversion)

96.0

95.5

94.0

93.5

93.0

92.5

RO

N

92.0

82.6

82.4

82.2

83.0

82.8

82.0

81.881.6

MO

N

81.4

1/1/2

014

2/3/2

014

1/5//2

014

30/6/2

014

29/8/2

014

28/10/2

014

27/12/2

014

25/2/2

015

Start StopSUPER Z EXCEL

ShutdownStart-up

MONRON

Figure 13 RON and MON values of FCC gasoline

Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

93.6

94.4

94.2

94.8

94.6

94.0

93.8

93.4

93.2

93.0

92.8

92.6

RO

N

92.447 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56

Reid Vapour Pressure, kPa

Base

SUPER Z EXCEL

Figure 14 Cross-plot of gasoline RON octane versus gasoline RVP

30

45

50

40

35

25

20

15

10

5

Ob

serv

ati

on

s, %

0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Base propylene yield, wt%

Mean = 5.7Slovnaft SZE trial = 6.0

Figure 15 Histogram of base propylene yield in a number of commercial FCC units

15

25

30

20

10

5

Ob

serv

ati

on

s, %

00 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 More

Δ Propylene yield, wt%

Slovnaft SZE trial = 3.0Mean = 1.1

Figure 16 Histogram of delta propylene yield with ZSM-5 in a number of commercial FCC units

8

to LPG. This suggests a more challenging

environ ment for ZSM-5 to be operating

in.

Gasoline selectivity effects

The ZSM-5 effect was also seen by

looking at gasoline selectivity (see Figure

12). Gasoline selectivity was relatively

constant through the base line period.

(Operational changes that increase

conversion will also tend to generate

gasoline yield increases of a similar

order.) However, when SUPER Z EXCEL

was introduced, the gasoline was cracked

to LPG with no change in conversion.

This resulted in a step drop in gaso line

selectivity due to ZSM-5. The shape

of this trend also proved to Slovnaft

that SUPER Z EXCEL was still actively

cracking gasoline to LPG by the end of

the data set, with gasoline selec tivity still

below the typical level observed before

the start of the test run.

Gasoline octane effects

As well as generating LPG olefins,

SUPER Z EXCEL was also effective in

increasing gasoline octane number (see

Figure 13).

It was thought that some of the

increase in octane was due to the slip

of LPG components into the gasoline

product. However, when Slovnaft looked

at this data on a cross-plot (see Figure

14), the RON octane values measured

during the test run were above

expectation at the gasoline Reid vapour

pres sure values observed at that time.

Comparing test run results to industry

averages

It has already been shown that

Slovnaft successfully increased

propylene yield from the FCC

unit. But how did these results compare

to industry trends? Using Johnson

Matthey’s data base of ZSM-5 tests,

Slovnaft compared their results to

general trends.

Firstly, it was seen that the base line

propylene yield at Slovnaft was already

higher than the average over all the

cases stud ied (see Figure 15).

This is not overly surprising as the FCC

feed processed at Slovnaft is of generally

good qual ity, being hydrotreated VGO,

and so is easily cracked. Moreover, the

FCC unit is operated in a high severity

mode conducive to high propylene

yields, with an average riser temperature

of 536°C.

This high base line propylene may

suggest further large increases may

be challenging if the paradigm of a

maximum propylene yield ceiling is to be

believed.

Despite the high base line propylene

yield, the 3 wt% propylene increase

seen at Slovnaft was far above average

(see Figure 16), confirming that the

ZSM-5 test run at Slovnaft had been

successful. Some FCC units operating

in a deep maxi mum propylene mode

are able to achieve propylene yield

increases of 5 wt% or greater when

using large amounts of ZSM-5 (10-30%

of total catalyst additions), showing that

there is further scope for Slovnaft if large

propylene yields are desired.

It was found that the concen tration

of ZSM-5 used during the Slovnaft

SUPER Z EXCEL test run was above the

average compared to Johnson Matthey's

INTERCATJM

TM ZSM-5 trial database (see

Figure 17). However, it should be remem-

bered that this was a condensed test run

conducted over a short time period to

test the advances in propylene yield

that could be achieved. Therefore, the

SUPER Z EXCEL concentration did not

reach a steady state that would generate

a stable propylene yield response at a

constant ZSM-5 concentration.

Despite not reaching a steady state

ZSM-5 concentration during this brief

test run, the propylene yield increase

per mass amount of ZSM-5 concen-

tration in the FCC inventory was above

the observed test run average (see

Figure 18). Although this measure

is only judged fairly once the FCC

inventory composition and FCC opera-

tion have reached a steady state of

the combination, the sensitivity of the

Slovnaft FCC unit to ZSM-5 use and the

high cracking activity of SUPER Z EXCEL

mean the results observed exceeded

normal expectations.

Conclusions

The FCC team at Slovnaft successfully

executed a short but instructive study

to determine the additional propylene

yield that could be attained from the

Bratislava refinery FCC unit. The ZSM-5

test run was carried out over a period of

49 days using Intercat SUPER Z EXCEL

from Johnson Matthey. The results from

this test run show a rapid and significant

increase in LPG olefins, with the average

propyl ene yield increasing from 6.1

to 8.9 wt% on a fresh feed basis. The

high propylene yield results recorded

elevated the Slovnaft FCC unit to a similar

percentage of propylene production

9

Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

30

50

45

40

35

25

20

15

10

5

Ob

serv

ati

on

s, %

0

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 More

ZSM-5 concentration in FCC inventory, wt%

Mean = 3.1

Slovnaft SZE trial = 5.9

Figure 17 Histogram of ZSM-5 concentration in a number of commercial FCC units

30

50

45

40

35

25

20

15

10

5

Ob

serv

ati

on

s, %

00 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1

Propylene yield per wt% additive, wt%/wt%

Mean = 0.35Slovnaft SZE trial = 0.51

Figure 18 Histogram of propylene yield increase over ZSM-5 concentration in a number of commercial FCC units

as with dedicated maximum propylene

FCC units designed specifically for high

propylene yields. In addition, increases in

butylenes, total LPG and gasoline octane

value were observed, which is consistent

with high activity ZSM-5 use.

In the view of Slovnaft, this test run

delivered numerous benefits that would

assist future projects and strategies.

The most important benefit was the

proof that propylene yield could be

successfully increased from the FCC

unit and could be exploited to fill the

additional propylene demand that exists

in the Slovnaft refinery if bottle necks were

removed. The second discovery was that

the test run revealed previously unknown

bottlenecks or opera tional pinch points

when the FCC unit is operated in maxi-

mum propylene mode, such as the

loss of LPG components to dry gas

and gasoline either due to equipment

capacity or a shift in operational

protocols when operating in this novel

mode. These findings will be used as

inputs in future FCC debottlenecking

studies. Finally, the test run gave Slovnaft

expe rience in ZSM-5 operation including

the LPG response when adding large

spikes of additive to the FCC unit, how

downstream equipment is impacted as

the composition of the LPG cut changes

with ZSM-5, and the decay period after

additions have ceased. Overall, this

brief test run of SUPER Z EXCEL gave

Slovnaft a wealth of useful information

that can now be used when plan ning

future strategies to increase refinery

profitability.

References

1 Propylene: 2015 World Market

Outlook and Forecast up to 2019, Jun

2015.

2 Synthetic & Bio-Based

Polypropylene Market Analysis by

Application and Segment Forecasts to

2022, Jun 2015.

3 Refinery sources will fill the

future propylene gap, Oil & Gas Journal,

Vol 101, No 4, 27 Jan 2013.

4 WoodMac: China, North

America face propylene oversupply, Oil &

Gas Journal, Vol 112, No 9d, 29 Sept 2014.

Rudolf Látka is a Chemical Engineer

with Slovnaft, a member of the MOL

Group. With more than 30 years of

experience in the oil and gas industry,

he has participated in the preparation,

realisation, operation and optimisation of

the FCC complex, a part of the refinery

Residuum Processing Project for resid

conversion to gasoline. He retired at the

end of 2015.

Vladimir Oleríny is an Operative

Maintenance Coordinator for the FCC

and hydrocracking complex at Slovnaft

refinery. From the initial FCC start-up

in 1999 until 2012, he worked as a FCC

Panel Operator. He holds a master’s

degree in chemical engineering from

Slovak University of Technology in

Bratislava.

Norbert Kovác is a Process Engineer

with Slovnaft. He previously worked at

both the Danube refinery and TVK (now

MOL Petrochemicals), holding various

positions including Energy Efficiency

Engineer. He holds a master’s degree in

chemical engineering from the University

of Pannonia, Veszprém.

Tom Ventham is a Senior Technical

Service Engineer for Johnson Matthey.

He has held this position since 2010,

supporting refineries in Europe, and he

previously worked for MW Kellogg Ltd as

a Process Engineer and Murco Milford

Haven refinery in the position of FCC

Engineer. He holds a master’s degree

in chemical engineering from Imperial

College, London, and is a Chartered

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Reprinted from Petroleum Technology Quarterly, Catalysis 2016

Information contained in this publication or as may be otherwise supplied by Johnson Matthey is believed to be accurate and correct at the time of publication

and is given in good faith. JOHNSON MATTHEY GIVES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS OF

ANY PRODUCT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Each User must determine independently for itself whether or not the Products will suitably meet its

requirements. Johnson Matthey accepts no liability for loss or damage resulting from reliance on this information other than damage resulting from the death

or personal injury caused by Johnson Matthey’s negligence or by a defective product. Freedom under Patent, Copyright and Designs cannot be assumed.

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