Inventors:
Zoltan C. Mester - Laguna Niguel CA
Edward J. Aitken - Brea CA
Assignee:
Union Oil Company of California - Los Angeles CA
International Classification:
C10G 1100
C01B 1760
Abstract:
A sulfur sorbent for use in reducing the emissions of sulfur oxides from regenerators of cyclic catalytic cracking units comprises a rare earth component or mixture of rare earth components in combination with a porous, inorganic refractory oxide component. The rare earth components used as a portion of the sorbent are preferably derived from the mineral bastnaesite by treating the bastnaesite to remove at least 50 weight percent of its fluorine, calculated as the element. The activity of the sulfur sorbent for removing sulfur oxides during catalytic cracking processes is increased to unexpectedly high levels by including in the composition cobalt or other transition metal component comprising an element selected from Group IB, Group IIB, Group IVA, Group VA, Group VIA, Group VIIA, and Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements.