Effect of Mixed Oxide Cracking Catalyst on Conversion of the Mixture of Vacuum Gas Oil and Vegetable Oil

A number of cracking catalyst samples containing Me–Mg–Al mixed oxides have been prepared. Cobalt, zinc, copper, and cerium were used as additional metals in the mixed oxide composition. When studying the cracking of a vacuum gas oil–sunflower oil mixture, catalysts containing Co–Mg–Al or Zn–Mg–Al mixed oxides were found to increase both the conversion rate of the mixed feedstock by 5.0 wt % compared to a sample containing the mixed oxide free of additional metal, and the gasoline yield by 1.6–3.0 wt %. It was discovered that the modification of mixed oxides with cobalt or zinc cations has no significant effect on the distribution of inorganic products, thereby indicating sustained catalytic activity during the decarboxylation reaction. The catalytic tests also demonstrated that catalyst samples containing mixed Mg–Al oxides with copper cations exhibited enhanced decarbonylation effect, as well as low conversion rates of the mixed feedstock and low gasoline yield, which is probably associated with the poisoning impact of copper oxide on Y zeolite.