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Recovery of Chemicals from Fcc And Steam Cracker

With the rising demand of ethylene and propylene, there has been a tremendous growth in the steam cracking of hydrocarbons during the last four decades. Similarly, FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking) has developed into a major upgrading process in the petroleum refinery industry for the conversion of heavy fuel oil into more valuable products ranging from light olefins to naphtha and middle distillate. Large amounts of C4 and C5 compounds are produced along with the production of ethylene in steam cracking and gasoline in FCC. C4 & C5 streams are an important source of feedstock for synthetic rubber and many chemicals.

With increasing demand of C5 hydrocarbons and oxygenates, upgrading of C4 and C5 streams from steam crackers and catalytic cracker is important to the economic performance of the above processes. It also provides a rich resource of reactive molecules, which forms the backbone of the synthetic rubber industry. The quantity and composition of the C4 and C5 stream depends on the severity of the steam cracker operation and feedstock processed.  Product profile C4 and C5 hydrocarbons are given in Figure M-VII 3.1 and Table M-VII 3.1. 

Recovery of Chemicals from FCC And Steam Cracker (Part - 1) | Chemical Technology - Chemical Engineering

Figure M-VII 3.1: Product Profile of C4 and C5 Hydrocarbon 

Product Profile of C5 Hydrocarbon 

C5 hydrocarbons –are an important source of synthetic rubber, solvents, chemical intermediate, MTBE, plasticisers, TAME, rubber chemicals, herbicides, lube oil additives, pharmaceuticals. 

C5

Hydrocarbon

Isoprene

Polyisoprene, as the cross linking agent in Butyl rubber

As co-monomer in stryrene-isoprene copolymers

 

Isopentane

Solvent, Chlorinated derivative, blowing agent for

Polystyrene

 

1-Pentene

Organic Synthesis, blending agent for high octane fuel

 

2-Pentene

Polymerisation inhibitor, organic synthesis

 

CycloPentene

Organic synthesis, polyolefins,epoxies cross linking

agent

 

2- Methyl-1-Butene

Synthetic mark, anyl benzene hydrogen synthetic mark, anyl benzene hydrogen peroxide catalyst, 2,4-diamyl phenol (photographs colour complex), pinacolone (Crop protection chemicals)

 

3- Methyl-1-Butene

Monomer for specialty homo-polymer

 

Cyclopentadiene

Chlorinated insecticides, Chemical intermediate, Antiviralagent

 

Piperylene

Polymers, maleic anhydride,chemical intermediate

 
Fluid Catalytic Cracking

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) converts low value crude oil into a variety of higher value products which include gasoline, diesel, heating oil and valuable gases containing LPG, propylene and C4 and C5 gases. Various products from fluid catalytic cracking and their uses are given in Table M-VII 3.2. FCC units are versatile and can be operated in three main modes which are aimed at maximizing middle distillate, gasoline, or olefins respectively by means of the adequate combination of various parameters such as catalyst type, catalyst to oil ratio, rise of outlet temperature and recycle of fractionators bottom. FCC is the second largest source of propylene supplied for petrochemical application.
  • Conventional FCC 4-7% propylene and 1-2 % Ethylene
  • High Severity FCC:10% propylene
  • Petro FCCTM (UOP): Ethylene 6%, Propylene 20-22%, Higher aromatics (18%) in Naphtha
  • Higher C4-8 olefins yield which can be cracked to yield lower olefins by Total Petrochemicals ATOFINA/UOP Olefin cracking Process
  • Although FCC is an important petroleum refining process, however, FCC gases have now become important petrochemical feedstock for production of LPG that can be converted to aromatics and C3, C4, & C5 hydrocarbons, i.e. propylene, butene, isobutene, pentene, etc.

Product distribution from FCC depends

  • Reactor temp
  • Feed preheat temperature
  • Catalyst activity
  • Catalyst circulation rate
  • Catalyst activity
  • Recycle rate 

Table M-VII 3.2: Various Petroleum Products from FCC and their uses

 

Product

Composition and Uses

Light gases

Primarily H2, C1 and C2s, ethylene can be recovered

LPG

C3s and C4s containing light olefins suitable for

alkylations

Gasoline

C5+ high octane component for gasoline pool or light

fuel

Light cycle oil (LCO)

Blend component for diesel or light fuel

Heavy cycle oil

(HCO)

Fuel oil or cutter oil

Clarified oil

Carbon black feedstock

Coke

Used in regenerator to provide the reactor heat demand

  

Propylene Recovery from FCC: FCC gases has  important source of propylene from refinery and now  FCC units are being operated both in gasoline mode and propylene mode. Details of propylene from FCC are given in Lecture 5 Module 6. Propylene from FCC may be as high as 25% with new FCC based propylene technologies. increased production of olefins from FCC unitsc has been achieved through changes in operations,base cracking catalyst and additive catalysts . and in hardware designs 

Upgrading Of C4 and C5 Streams

C4 and C5 Streams fromSteam Cracker and FCC contains C4 and C5 hydrocarbons  recovery of which has become important steps for improving the overall economy of these processes. Some of the important C4 streams from Cracker and FCC butadiene(from cracker plant only) ,butene1, 2- butane, isobutylene, mixed n-butene, isobutene..C4 stream of steam cracker contains appreciable amount of butadiene which is being recovered from naphtha  cracker plants.  Typical composition of C4 stream of naphtha cracker and FCC is given Table M-VII 3.3. The distribution product will depend on thefeed stock,cracking severity and catalyst in case of FCC

Table M-VII 3.3: Typical Compositions of C4 Fractions 

 

Component

FCC

Steam Cracking

Isobutane

37.0

2.0

Isobutene

24.0

26.0

1-Butene

15.0

13.6

1,3-Butadiene

0.2

36.0

2-Butenes (cis and trans)

11.0

12.0

n-Butane

12.0

9.8

others

balance

balance

 
Typical C5 cuts from steam cracking contain C4 (1%), n-pentene (26%), isopentane (24%), npentenes (4.5%), methyl butenes (12%), cyclopentenes (1.5%), isoprene (13.5%), pentadiene (piperylene) (9.0%), cyclopentadiene (7.5%), C6+ (1%) . Cyclopentadiene is easily dimerised to higher boiling dicyclopentadiene and separated from C5 stream by simple distillation. Typical composition of C5 cuts from catalytic cracking may be C4 (2%), n-pentane (5.5%), isopentane (31.5%), n-pentenes (22.5%), methyl butenes (37.5%), C6+ (1%) . Naphtha feed gives higher yield of C4 (8-10%) than ethane feed (2-3%) • Upgrading of C4 Olefins :
  • The production of chemical intermediates
  • Butene-1, isobutylene, mixed n-butene
  • Production of motor fuel component (alkylate, dimate, MTBE)

Processing of C4 cut from Steam Cracker and FCC

There is not much difference in the processing of C4 streams after the recovery of butadiene from the steam cracker and C4 streams from the FCC. C4 stream Butadiene f romC4 stream of naphtha cracker/ gas cracker is first recovered, followed by separation Isobutylene, isobutanee, butane, butane-1 and butene-2 from C4 stream/ FCC and cracker using various process like etherification, hydrolusis, cracking, adsorption distillation etc. plant by various  C4 cut from steam cracker and FCC is shown in Figure M-VII 3.2 . Isobutene recovery includes either hydration of the C4 stream and subsequent decomposition or etherification with methanol to yield MTBE, which is cracked to give isobutene. Separation of 1-butene is done by selective hydrogenation followed by adsorption for separation of 1-butene and further processing for separation of isobutene and 2-butene by distillation. Separation of 2-butene involves hydroisomerisation and subsequent distillation for separation of isobutene and 2-butene. 

Recovery of Chemicals from FCC And Steam Cracker (Part - 1) | Chemical Technology - Chemical Engineering

Recovery of Chemicals from FCC And Steam Cracker (Part - 1) | Chemical Technology - Chemical Engineering

Recovery of Chemicals from FCC And Steam Cracker (Part - 1) | Chemical Technology - Chemical Engineering

 

Figure M-VII 3.2: Separation of C4 hydrocarbons from FCC and Steam Cracker plants 

After separation of butadiene, the C4 streams from cracking and FCC is processed for production of n-butene, 1-butene, 2-butene, and isobutene. Process flow diagram for treatment of 

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FAQs on Recovery of Chemicals from FCC And Steam Cracker (Part - 1) - Chemical Technology - Chemical Engineering

1. What is FCC in chemical engineering?
Ans. FCC stands for Fluid Catalytic Cracking, which is a process used in the petroleum industry to convert heavy hydrocarbon fractions into lighter, more valuable products such as gasoline. In this process, a catalyst is used to break down the large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller ones in the presence of heat and pressure.
2. How does the recovery of chemicals from FCC and steam cracker work?
Ans. The recovery of chemicals from FCC and steam cracker processes involves several steps. Firstly, the spent catalyst or feedstock is collected and transferred to a regeneration unit. Here, the catalyst is heated to remove any coke deposits and restore its activity. The regenerated catalyst is then returned to the cracking unit for further use. As for the chemicals, they are separated from the cracked products using various separation techniques such as distillation, fractionation, and solvent extraction.
3. What are the main chemicals that can be recovered from FCC and steam cracker processes?
Ans. The main chemicals that can be recovered from FCC and steam cracker processes include olefins (such as ethylene and propylene), aromatics (such as benzene and toluene), and other valuable by-products like butadiene and xylene. These chemicals have significant industrial applications and can be further processed or sold as raw materials for various industries.
4. What are the challenges in the recovery of chemicals from FCC and steam cracker processes?
Ans. The recovery of chemicals from FCC and steam cracker processes faces several challenges. One major challenge is the complexity and variability of the feedstock, which affects the composition and quality of the recovered chemicals. Another challenge is the presence of impurities and contaminants in the cracked products, which require additional purification steps. Furthermore, the high temperatures and pressures involved in these processes can also pose safety and operational challenges.
5. What are the benefits of recovering chemicals from FCC and steam cracker processes?
Ans. The recovery of chemicals from FCC and steam cracker processes offers several benefits. Firstly, it allows for the utilization of valuable by-products that would otherwise go to waste. This not only reduces environmental impact but also provides additional revenue streams for the industry. Secondly, the recovered chemicals can be used as feedstock for various downstream processes, thus reducing the dependence on fossil fuel-based raw materials. Additionally, the recovery of chemicals helps to optimize the overall efficiency and profitability of the FCC and steam cracker units.
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