BATON ROUGE, La., April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A unique
collaboration between catalyst researchers from Albemarle
Corporation (NYSE: ALB), Utrecht
University and Stanford University has
led to an innovative new method for observing fluid catalytic
cracking (FCC) catalyst behavior at the nanoscale. Using
X-ray nano-tomography as a powerful chemical imaging method,
Albemarle and its partners have discovered that the impurities in
the feedstock can create a largely impenetrable crust on the
surface of an FCC catalyst particle, preventing the feedstock from
reaching the still active core. This breakthrough observation
indicates that inner components of FCC catalysts are not being
fully utilized, creating opportunities for catalyst
optimization.
"This deeper understanding of the catalyst deactivation process
is paramount as we become more dependent on heavier, more
contaminated feeds," said Edwin
Berends, vice president of Albemarle's Refining Solutions
Research and Technology group. "This new observation
technique shows that catalyst accessibility is the key in
maximizing the utilization of catalyst particles and gives us
insights on how to engineer even better, more sustainable
solutions."
"Understanding the deactivation process of this catalyst
material is important because we will become increasingly dependent
on cheap, but dirty petroleum for making gasoline in the coming
decades," said Bert Weckhuysen, professor of inorganic chemistry
and catalysis at Utrecht
University and an author of the research. "Now that we know this,
we can work on solutions to make the conversion process more
sustainable."
A detailed technical article discussing this research has been
published in the April issue of Science Advances. To access
the article, please click here.
About Albemarle
Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, is a premier specialty
chemicals company with leading positions in attractive end markets
around the world. With a broad customer reach and diverse end
markets, Albemarle develops, manufactures and markets
technologically advanced and high value added products, including
lithium and lithium compounds, bromine and bromine derivatives,
catalysts and surface treatment chemistries used in a wide range of
applications including consumer electronics, flame retardants,
metal processing, plastics, contemporary and alternative
transportation vehicles, refining, pharmaceuticals, agriculture,
construction and custom chemistry services. Albemarle is focused on
delivering differentiated, performance-based technologies that
deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. The
Company employs approximately 6,900 people and serves customers in
approximately 100 countries. Albemarle regularly posts information
to www.albemarle.com, including notification of events, news,
financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts,
Regulation G reconciliations, SEC filings and other
information regarding the Company, its businesses and the markets
it serves.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release
regarding Albemarle Corporation's business that are not historical
facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and
uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties,
which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in
the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q.
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SOURCE Albemarle Corporation