BASF today announced the commercial launch of ZEAL, a new fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) additive designed to enhance the production of light olefins in FCC units that process resid or gasoil feedstocks. BASF says ZEAL is the latest product development that will enable refiners to quickly respond to the increasing shift topetrochemical feedstocks. It has been optimized to deliver “superior” propylene yields while maintaining the base catalyst performance.
Commercial trials have confirmed the product’s ability to deliver high propylene selectivity and yields. This technology enhances performance through the higher content of zeolitic active sites in a new propylene FCC additive. Successful applications have demonstrated ZEAL’s ability to provide operating flexibility as refiners increasingly shift toward a crude-to-chemicals configuration in the future, the company says.
“The introduction of ZEAL shows that we continuously innovate and introduce new products that address refineries’ needs. We are confident that the benefits of this new product will bring our customers improvements in propylene yields, potentiallycontributing to the refineries’ profitability,” says Detlef Ruff, senior vice president/process catalysts at BASF.
“The refining market, and our customers, increasingly focus on the need to support conversion of crude to chemicals. ZEAL delivers high propylene yields to help our customers make more for the market,” says Jim Chirumbole, vice president/refining catalysts at BASF.
