SUPERPARAMAGNETIC FORMATION ON FCC CATALYST PROVIDES MEANS OF SEPARATION OF OLD EQUILIBRIUM FLUID CRACKING CATALYST

Improved catalytic process for carrying out heavy hydrocarbon conversion in the presence of metal on the catalyst and in the feedstock, by catalytic cracking such heavy carbometallic oils to lighter molecular weight fractions. The discovery of a ferro/superparamagnetic component of older catalyst, which when present, can be employed to achieve enhanced magnetic separation of aged catalyst. This invention utilizes this property to enhance separation of more magnetically active, older, less catalytically active and selective, higher metals-containing catalyst particulates from less magnetically active, lower metal containing particulates. The more catalytically active and selective catalysts fractions, are then recycled back to the process.