ASTM_D_4463_-_D_4463M_-_96_2013e1.pdf

Designation:D4463/D4463M96(Reapproved 2013)1Standard Guide forMetals Free Steam Deactivation of Fresh Fluid CrackingCatalysts1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4463/D4463M;the number immediately following the designation indicates theyear of original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of lastreapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1NOTEEditorially changed 1.3.1 and 2.1 in March 2013.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers the deactivation of fresh fluid cata-lytic cracking(FCC)catalyst by hydrothermal treatment priorto the determination of the catalytic cracking activity in themicroactivity test(MAT).1.2 The hydrothermal treatment of fresh FCC catalyst,priorto the MAT,is important because the catalytic activity of thecatalyst in its fresh state is an inadequate measure of its truecommercial performance.During operation in a commercialcracking unit,the catalyst is deactivated by thermal,hydrother-mal and chemical degradation.Therefore,to maintain catalyticactivity,fresh catalyst is added(semi)continuously to thecracking unit,to replace catalyst lost through the stack or bywithdrawal,or both.Under steady state conditions,the catalystinventory of the unit is called equilibrium catalyst.Thiscatalyst has an activity level substantially below that of freshcatalyst.Therefore,artificially deactivating a fresh catalystprior to determination of its cracking activity should providemore meaningful catalyst performance data.1.3 Due to the large variations in properties among freshFCC catalyst types as well as between commercial crackingunit designs or operating conditions,or both,no single set ofsteam deactivation conditions is adequate to artificially simu-late the equilibrium catalyst for all purposes.1.3.1 In addition,there are many other factors that willinfluence the properties and performance of the equilibriumcatalyst.These include,but are not limited to:deposition ofheavy metals such as Ni,V,Cu;deposition of light metals suchas Na;contamination from attrited refractory linings of vesselwalls.Furthermore,commercially derived equilibrium catalystrepresents a distribution of catalysts of different ages(fromfresh to 300 days).Despite these apparent problems,it ispossible to obtain reasonably close agreement between theperformances of steam deactivated and equilibrium catalysts.Itis also recognized that it is possible to steam deactivate acatalyst so that its properties and performance poorly representthe equilibrium.It is therefore recommended that when assess-ing the performance of different catalyst types,a commonsteaming condition be used.Catalyst deactivation by metalsdeposition is not addressed in this guide,but is addressed inGuide D7206/D7206M.1.4 This guide offers two approaches to steam deactivatefresh catalysts.The first part provides specific sets of condi-tions(time,temperature and steam pressure)that can be usedas general pre-treatments prior to comparison of fresh FCCcatalyst MAT activities(Test Method D3907)or activities plusselectivities(Test Method D5154).1.4.1 The second part provides guidance on how to pretreatcatalysts to simulate their deactivation in a specific FCCU andsuggests catalyst properties which can be used to judgeadequacy of the simulation.This technique is especially usefulwhen examining how different types of catalyst may perform ina specific FCCU,provided no other changes(catalyst additionrate,regenerator temperature,contaminant metals levels,etc.)occur.This approach covers catalyst physical properties thatcan be used as monitors to indicate the closeness to equilibriumcatalyst properties.1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system may not be exact equivalents;therefore,eachsystem shall be used independently of the other.Combiningvalues from the two systems may result in non-conformancewith the standard.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D32 on Catalysts andis the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D32.04 on Catalytic Properties.Current edition approved March 1,2013.Published March 2013.Originallyapproved in 1985.Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D4463/D4463M96(2012)e1.DOI:10.1520/D4463_D4463M-96R13E01.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D3663 Test Method for Surface Area of Catalysts andCatalyst CarriersD3907 Test Method for Testing Fluid Catalytic Cracking(FCC)Catalysts by Microactivity TestD3942 Test Method for Determination of the