Lanthanum oxide for FCC catalysts

Description

1. Product Overview

Lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) is a high-performance rare-earth compound engineered specifically as a structural and activity promoter for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. It is primarily used in petroleum refining to enhance zeolite stability, increase bottoms cracking, and boost yields of gasoline and light olefins. The key value proposition lies in its exceptional hydrothermal resistance and rare-earth exchange efficiency, which prolongs catalyst life under severe regenerator conditions. Strategically, it is indispensable for refiners aiming to maximize propylene and high-octane gasoline from heavier, opportunity crude slates.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical composition: Lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃), typically 99.0%–99.99% purity with controlled low levels of Na, Ca, Fe, Si, and Cl

• Purity grade: Standard FCC grade (≥99.0% La₂O₃/REO) and high-purity grade (≥99.9% La₂O₃/REO) available

• Physical form: White to pale yellow fine powder; typical D50: 4–8 µm; bulk density: 0.8–1.2 g/cm³; specific surface area: 5–15 m²/g

• Packaging options: 25 kg multilayer paper/PE bags, 500 kg to 1,000 kg FIBC bulk bags, or custom moisture-barrier liners

• Shelf life: 24 months in original unopened packaging stored in dry, non-acidic conditions (≤75% RH)

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Primary industry: Petroleum refining (FCC units) – directly improves zeolite Y framework stability under 700–750°C regenerator steam.

• Operational use case: Substituted into FCC catalyst manufacturing (0.5–5.0 wt% La₂O₃) to retain lattice structure and reduce unit cell contraction, increasing bottoms upgrading by 5–10%.

• Performance advantage vs. alternatives: Outperforms cerium or mixed rare earths in vanadium tolerance, minimizing dehydrogenation and dry gas formation.

• Efficiency/cost advantage: Higher La purity reduces total rare-earth loading per ton of catalyst, lowering refiner’s makeup cost per barrel while increasing coke selectivity.

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality consistency: Lot-to-lot La₂O₃ content variation <0.5% REO; certified via ICP-OES and XRF with full traceability.

• Supply reliability: Direct from calcination lines with 15,000 MT annual capacity; redundant sourcing of upstream lanthanum carbonate.

• Logistics capability: Just-in-time delivery to catalyst plants in Asia, Middle East, Europe, and Americas via dedicated rare-earth supply chain.

• Price competitiveness: Long-term fixed-plus-formula pricing with no speculative premiums.

• Sustainability: Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) production; ISO 14001 certified; recycled packaging options available.

• Technical support: On-site application lab for FCC equilibrium catalyst analysis and La optimization modeling.

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): 20 metric tons (MT) per shipment

• BULK 20MT loading capacity per container: 20 MT per 20-foot dry container (1.1–1.2 g/cm³ tapped density, 18–19 MT net for standard bags; 20 MT achievable with FIBC optimised loading)