Advances in X-ray chemical imaging of a single catalyst particle

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst particles are complex, hierarchical, multi-component systems that are used ubiquitously for the production of valuable hydrocarbons such as gasoline and propylene from crude oil feedstocks. In the FCC unit, high heat, steam and feedstocks contaminated with deleterious metals, such as Fe, Ni and V contribute to FCC catalyst deactivation and loss in activity. Due to the broad industrial relevance, there are large economic and societal incentives towards mitigating activity loss and increasing catalyst stability. However, due to their complex chemical nature, study of FCC deactivation remains challenging and requires the use of advanced characterization techniques offering both high resolution and high chemical sensitivity. In this thesis we have employed a range of synchrotron-based X-ray spectromicroscopy techniques in 2-D and 3-D in order to understand the specific mechanisms of FCC catalyst deactivation at the single particle level with unprecedented sensitivity. We describe both the advancements made in X-ray imaging and data analysis therein as well as the insights into catalyst deactivation