What are the Key Catalytic Processes in a Refinery?
Several key catalytic processes are integral to refinery operations:
1. Catalytic Cracking: This process breaks down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more valuable ones like gasoline and diesel. Zeolite catalysts are commonly used for catalytic cracking.
2. Hydrotreating: Catalysts help remove sulfur, nitrogen, and other impurities from petroleum fractions, producing cleaner fuels and meeting environmental regulations.
3. Hydrocracking: This process uses hydrogen and catalysts to break heavy hydrocarbons into lighter, more valuable products. It is essential for producing high-quality diesel and jet fuel.
4. Reforming: In this process, naphtha is converted into high-octane gasoline components and aromatic compounds using platinum-based catalysts.
5. Isomerization: Catalysts facilitate the rearrangement of hydrocarbon molecules to produce isomers with higher octane numbers, improving gasoline quality.
