Hydrocarbon Processing - March 2022 - 61

History of the HPI-The 1940s
W. R. Grace & Co.
The First FCC Changes the World
In 1942, Grace's Curtis Bay manufacturing plant shipped the first
fluid cracking (FCC) catalyst for petroleum refining to the world's
first commercial FCC unit in Baton Rouge, LA. The primary goal was
to make high-quality aviation fuel for the Allies effort in WWII, influencing
the outcome of the war. By 1945, there were more than 34
FCC units in operation-all supplied by Grace-eventually making other
conversion processes obsolete. Over its 80-year history, FCC units
have been reconfigured and expanded to produce a wider variety of
fuels, taking advantage of the extreme degree of flexibility enabled
by this revolutionary system. The FCC is now one of the principal
conversion units in modern petroleum refining.
LEGACY OF INNOVATION
FCC capacity increased after the war to supply motor fuels and
a technology revolution began. In the 1960s, FCC zeolite innovation
increased gasoline yields and in the 1980s, innovation in additives
enhanced propylene yields and octane while providing solutions for
refiners to comply with increasing environmental regulations. And,
into the new century, FCC catalysts are increasingly being used to
tackle challenges in resid processing and metals passivation.
Like the FCC unit, Grace's FCC catalysts are extremely flexible,
and help refineries stay competitive in various ways. In addition to
custom catalyst design for all yield objectives, Grace is known for
industry leading technical service, and continually advancing FCC
catalyst innovation to improve product performance and create
value. And as the world moves to newer, and more diverse sources of
energy and chemical products, Grace's team is working to adapt our
FCC catalysts to enable refiners to solve evolving challenges associated
with petrochemical precursor production, feedstock diversity,
new environmental limits, and coprocessing of bio-based feedstocks.
Since its inception, Grace has led the way in creating value for
refiners by processing more or broadening feed profiles using innovative
technology. Over the decades, Grace built an impressive
FCC manufacturing network, which solidified its reputation as the
world's leading supplier of FCC catalysts and additives. And, with
laboratory and manufacturing sites on multiple continents supplying
units in more than 60 countries, Grace successfully brings next
generation technologies through the pipeline from R&D to wide
commercial use.
As you might expect from the pioneer in FCC catalysts, Grace
was the first catalyst company to provide technical services to the
refining industry. Today, world-class technical service and specialized
evaluation tools help refiners create opportunities from the
challenges they face, ensuring they capture the most value from the
operation of their FCC unit.
WORKING ON WHAT'S NEXT
So, what's next for Grace and the FCC unit? The next major
advancement in refining is already underway. The flexible FCC unit
is being deployed more creatively to increase propylene supply and
help support our industry's sustainability ambitions. In many ways,
the FCC's role in the modern refinery is being re-invented to reduce
emissions and waste, repurpose to cleaner fuels and petrochemical
production, and recycle spent catalyst and other materials.
The energy transition is as ripe of an opportunity for innovation as
the early days when the invention of fluid catalytic cracking literally
changed the world. From co-processing biofuels to reducing emissions,
Grace is investing the people, research, and technology it will
take to pursue a more sustainable energy future.
CONTACT INFORMATION
W. R. Grace & Co.
www.grace.com
7500 Grace Dr., Columbia, MD 21044
SPONSORED CONTENT
Hydrocarbon Processing | MARCH 2022 61
http://www.grace.com
Hydrocarbon Processing - March 2022

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