In April 2018 the Sinopec Corporation launched “The Green Enterprises Action Program” by proposing to construct all clean, high-efficiency, low-carbon and recyclable green enterprises by 2023. The catalyst factories under the Sinopec Corporation are faced with the double pressure on enhancing the green production capability and improving the performance of catalysts produced. The technical barrier which should be tackled in the domain of FCC catalysts is to achieve the green and highly efficient technology for manufacture of zeolites and catalysts.

The SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing(RIPP) has developed a technology for high-efficiency preparation of ultra-stable zeolite HSY and its associated catalysts by using an ammonium salt-free process for manufacture of zeolite to avoid the ammonia-nitrogen contamination in the production process, resulting in an improved activity, selectivity and stability of catalysts produced thereby. The application of this technology not only can further reduce the pollutants emissions at the catalyst factories, but also can increase the economic benefits of FCC units at oil refineries.

The research team of RIPP based on an in-depth study on chemical process for manufacture of ultra-stable zeolites has proposed to grapple with the contradiction between removal of sodium ions from zeolite and ammonium salt contamination from the source. The research team after theoretical study has delved into the relationship between the structural characteristics of ultra-stable zeolites and their reactivity, selectivity and stability to put forward the new understanding of catalyst performance. After establishing a correlation model involving feedstock property, reaction conditions, control factors and other variables for manufacture of zeolite versus the structural characteristics of ultra-stable zeolites, the research team finally achieved the green and highly efficient manufacture of the HSY series of ultra-stable zeolites.Furthermore, the research team of RIPP on the basis of the HSY zeolite production technology has developed an innovative technology for manufacture of novel catalyst, leading to elimination of ammonia-nitrogen contamination in the catalyst preparation process.

The Development and application of green and highly efficient technology for commercial-scale preparation of USB zeolites and relevant catalysts have enhanced the green level for catalyst manufacture to secure a commanding lead in the green development of catalyst industry, which can provide an unstinting technical support to SINOPEC’s green enterprises action program“Contributing clean energy and implementing green development”.