100-103Fly ash from a Thermal Power Plant was converted
to zeolite by alkali fusion followed by hydrothermal treatment. The formation of
zeolite was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The
performance of the prepared zeolite as cracking catalyst was tested by carrying
out cracking of a heavy crude residue. Cracking of the same feed was also carried
out with raw (untreated) fly ash and commercial 13X zeolite. At 11 wt% catalyst
loading, temperature 380°C and atmospheric pressure, the feed conversions to lighter
products (bp ≤ 250°C) obtained were 35.6%, 58% and 58% with raw fly ash, treated
fly ash and commercial zeolite, respectively, as the catalyst