Hydrocracking catalysts operate through a dual mechanism involving acid sites and metal sites:
- Acid Sites: The acidic component of the catalyst facilitates the cracking of large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller ones. This is achieved through protonation and subsequent β-scission reactions. - Metal Sites: The metal component aids in the addition and removal of hydrogen. Hydrogenation helps in saturating the cracked fragments, while dehydrogenation prepares the feedstock for cracking by removing hydrogen atoms.
