Advances in Fluid Catalytic Cracking: Testing, Characterization, and Environmental Regulations

The petroleum refining industry has been changed by environmental regulations worldwide. Examining these effects, this book explores the use of adsorption microcalorimetry to measure acidity, acid site density, and the strength of the strongest acid sites in heterogenous catalysts. It also discusses the use of ¹H-NMR to characterize the properties of a FCCU feedstock and examines pilot plant testing of catalysts and nontraditional feedstocks, maximizing and improving LCO (heating oil) production and quality, and improving FCCU operations. The final chapters examine the EPA’s attempts to encourage the refining industry to enter into voluntary consent decrees to comply with the Clean Air Act.

Mario L. Occelli has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Iowa State University. He has contributed to multidisciplinary research projects with chemists, surface scientists, physicists, material scientists, and chemical engineers working in national and industrial laboratories and in academia. He has published more than 125 refereed papers, received 30 U.S. patents, presented over 120 papers and lectures at national and international meetings, and edited or co-edited 12 books. Currently he works as an independent consultant.