Blending of Non-Petroleum Compounds with Current Hydrocarbon Feeds to Use in the Thermo-Catalytic Steam-Cracking Process for the Selective Production of Light Olefins

In this review/original research paper, the general aspects of the use of hybrid catalysts in the thermo-catalytic steam-cracking process (TCSC) are reported. These include the conceptual interpretations of pore continuum and hydrogen spillover phenomena occurring within a hybrid catalyst extrudate. The preparation procedures of various co-catalysts used, as well as that of the hydrothermally stable support, are also reported. Expanding these concepts beyond the TCSC process, our most recent results show that it is possible to determine the "catalytic compatibility" of several hydroxyl-groups bearing compounds with the current petroleum-based feeds, paving the way to the partial replacement of these non-renewable fossil materials by renewable ones such as various products of biomass conversion. While methanol is surely a good additive for hydrocarbon feeds currently used in the petrochemical industry to produce light olefins, glycerol, and bio-oils may be good additives for fossil-oil-derived feeds that are currently used for the production of transportation fuels (gasoline and others).