ImpactofZeolitesonthePetroleumandPetrochemicalIndustry.pdfVIP

Top Catal (2009) 52:1131–1161 DOI 10.1007/s11244-009-9271-8 ORIGINAL PAPER Impact of Zeolites on the Petroleum and Petrochemical Industry W. Vermeiren Æ J.-P. Gilson Published online: 15 May 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009 Abstract The general features of zeolites that led to their 1 Introduction and Scope widespread use in oil refining and petrochemistry are highlighted as well as the details of their impact on selected Zeolites have ceased to be minerals merely displayed in processes. The analysis of the catalyst market and the museums, and have become a commercial and scientific position of zeolites therein is a good indication of their success-story since their large-scale utilization in industry. strategic importance. Zeolites have brought many disrup- It all started with the use of synthetic zeolites in oil refining tive changes to these fields (e.g. FCC). They impacted also and petrochemicals. The rest is now part of industrial these industries in an equally important way, although history: it is a case study of breakthrough and incremental more subtle, by incremental improvement of processes. innovation [ 1–3] and a model of interplay between science The new and vast challenges facing oil refining and pet- and technology, from very fundamental academic research rochemistry as well as the managed transition to sustain- and industrial curiosity to efficient large scale production able environmental benign transport fuel industries and of zeolites and their deployment in catalytic- or adsorbent- chemical industries will require creative science and based processes. technologies. Zeolites offer the basis of many of these This contribution is not another updated compilation of technological soluti