BENZOTHIOPHENE AND CYCLOHEXANE REACTIONS OVER LA MODIFIED BETA ZEOLITES IN FCC PROCESS

The Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit is an important operation inrefineries for producing high-value fractions. However, FCC gasoline contains sulfurcompounds, particularly thiophene and benzothiophene, which are resistant tocracking and must be removed in subsequent purification steps to comply withregulatory specifications. An effective strategy involves the use of catalytic sulfurreduction additives to reduce these contaminants in situ during the FCC reactions. Thisstudy investigated the catalytic cracking of benzothiophene over lanthanum-modifiedbeta zeolite (SAR 18), evaluating the performance of this catalyst in promoting thereduction of sulfur in gasoline to lighter or heavier fractions.