The TAP-2 reactor as an alternative tool for investigating FCC catalysts

The fast transient temporal analysis of products (TAP) reactor has been suc cessfully applied as an alternative tool for investigating the hydrodynamic and catalytic properties of commercial FCC catalysts: (i) diffusion of iso octane as a probe molecule within the various interfaces between the gas ph ase and the cracking acid sites (matrix mesoporosity and zeolite microporos ity), (ii) applied cracking mechanism: unimolecular (protolytic via alkaniu m ions), or bimolecular (via carbenium ions) or a combination of both, hydr ide transfer and side reactions. The relationship between the above paramet ers and the state and composition of the tested catalysts is discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail rights reserved.