Impact of Zeolites on the Petroleum and Petrochemical Industry

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Zeolites have ceased to be minerals merely displayed in museums, and have become a commercial and scientific success-story since their large-scale utilization in industry. It all started with the use of synthetic zeolites in oil refining and petrochemicals. The rest is now part of industrial history: it is a case study of breakthrough and incremental innovation and a model of interplay between science and technology, from very fundamental academic research and industrial curiosity to efficient large scale production of zeolites and their deployment in catalytic- or adsorbent based processes. This contribution is not another updated compilation of zeolite-based processes found in oil refining and petro chemistry; many reviews exist already and point to further and more detailed studies. In particular, the two volume contribution of Marcilly is a compulsory reading for the serious beginner for the depth and the breadth of its coverage; moreover, it gives a unique perspective by a seasoned practitioner acquainted with both fundamental and applied aspects of zeolites and other acid– base catalytic processes. This contribution aims to paint a broad picture of the subject, with a few close-ups on selected topics. It is followed by a general reflection on the future use of zeolites in industry and the need for collaboration between industrial and academic researcher. It is intended for newcomers in the world of zeolites science and technology and intends to enable them to deepen and broaden their insights to generate new ideas, processes and products for the benefit of society as a whole. Zeolites have so far been extensively used in the petroleum industry and could still play an important role in the major challenges ahead of us. These are the exploitation of non-conventional petroleum resources (tar sands, heavy crude oil and oil shale’s),
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