Treated fly ash: A potential catalyst for catalytic cracking

Fly ash from a Thermal Power Plant was converted to zeolite by alkali fusio n followed by hydrothermal treatment. The formation of zeolite was confirme d by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The performance of the prepared zeolite as cracking catalyst was tested by carrying out crack ing of a heavy crude residue. Cracking of the same feed was also carried ou t with raw (untreated) fly ash and commercial 13X zeolite. At 11 wt% cataly st loading, temperature 380 degreesC and atmospheric pressure, the feed con versions to lighter products (bp less than or equal to 250 degreesC) obtain ed were 35.6%, 58% and 58% with raw fly ash. treated fly ash and commercial zeolite, respectively, as the catalyst.