Catalyst to oil mass ratio optimization on fluid catalytic cracking process in green gasoline production

Abstract

Palm oil has potential as raw material for green gasoline as renewable energy source. One of the most important variables to support the achievement optimum operating condition in the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) process was the mass ratio of catalyst to oil (c/o). The FCC process simulation was carried out by using an Advance Cracking Evaluation (ACE) unit at mass ratio c/o (4.00, 5.00, 5.56, 6.00, 6.52) w/w ASTM D3907. The quality test of the FCC product were distribution of boiling point by using Refinery Gas Analyzer (RGA) Chromatography ASTM D2504 and using high temperature distillation simulating gas chromatography ASTM D7169, octane number by using Detailed Hydrocarbon Analysis (DHA) Chromatography ASTM D6730 and coke formation by using CO Analyzer ASTM D6316. The study shown that the most optimum c/o ratio in FCC process was at ratio 6.00 w/w with the amount of dry gas product 2.48 percent w/w, LPG 27.36 percent w/w, gasoline 41.81 percent w/w, LCO 11.54 percent w/w, HCO 0.00 percent w/w, bottom 3.71 w/w, and coke 12.99 percent w/w with octane number was 84.693. It can be concluded that FCC process of the palm oil mixture feed at this ratio has better quality than PT Pertamina's FCC feed.