Cracking of mixed C4 hydrocarbons to ethylene and propylene

Key words:  mixed C4 hydrocarbons  cracking  ethylene  propylene  LXH-I catalyst

Abstract:

Approximately 50% of mixed C4 hydrocarbons produced during FCC process is butene, which is a good feedstock to produce ethylene and propylene, especially propylene. The performances of LXH-I catalyst were investigated in 色 fixed-bed apparatus during the cracking reaction of the mixed C4 to ethylene and propylene. The results show that butene can be converted to ethylene and propylene with high selectivity. Simultaneously, a certain amount of C5 is also formed. The conversion of butane, and the yields of ethylene and propylene drop with time during the early stage of reaction, then maintain constant basically. The stable conversion of butene, and the yields of ethylene and propylene are around 58%，13% and 40% respectively. It is also shown that the cracking reactions of butene to ethylene and propylene may proceed via the mechanism of first dimerization then cracking.