Structural models for catalytic cracking; Model compound reactions

Data on the catalytic cracking reactions of model compounds over an amorphous silica-alumina-zirconia catalyst are organized into a general framework based on carbon centers. Each hydrocarbon in a petroleum mixture consists of a collection of carbon centers, and the reaction behavior of individual compounds can be described by the reaction behavior of the carbon centers. The cracking behavior of the carbon centers has been deduced from pure compound studies available in the literature. The carbon center approach results in predictions that are in reasonbable agreement with the experimental data. The models of pure components are used as a basis for modeling the cataytic cracking reactions of hydrocarbon mixtures.