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Catalytic Fines
Catalytic fines consist of small abrasive particles of silicon and aluminium. These are carried over from the
refinery process of catalytic cracking. The catalytic cracker uses catalysts based on silicon and aluminium to
convert more of the heavy parts of the crude oil to sellable products such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene.
This process reduces the quality of the residual oil that can be blended to meet the specification of marine fuel,
but also the catalysts can contaminate the residual oil produced from the catalytic cracker. Catalytic fines are
very abrasive and can pass through filters and strainers causing catastrophic damage to fuel pumps, fuel
injectors, pistons and cylinder liners.
Cat-fines are distributed unevenly in the fuel and held in suspension by asphaltenes. As asphaltenes
agglomerate and eventually precipitate as sludge, some of the cat-fines are carried with them, however the
smaller accumulations of asphaltenes and cat-fines remain in suspension. During filtration and centrifuging some
of the asphaltenes are removed from the fuel, but a large proportion of the asphaltene/cat-fine combinations
remain in suspension and pass through filters and centrifugal purifiers/clarifiers to the fuel service tank.
Issue No 2, 2006
Technical Note
Results
In a trial where the dispersant/stabiliser technology used in the OctamarTM products were tested, a significant
reduction in catfines was seen after the fuel separator. Figure 1 shows analysis of Al and Si in the fuel before
and after centrifugation.
120
Untreated
Treated
107
Amount (ppm)
100
80
69
60
40
20
3
2
0
Al
Si
Catfines
Figure 1. This figure shows how the amount of catfines in the fuel decreased significantly after treatment and centrifugation.
Unfortunately no data are available of the catfine content after the separators without additive treatment. The
total amount of 5 ppm catfines is however very good.
The information contained in this document is provided free of charge and is based on technical data that Innospec believes to be reliable. It is intended
for use by persons having technical skill and at their own discretion and risk. Innospec accepts no liability for any loss, damage or expense arising from, or
in connection with, the use of the information. Furthermore, none of the contents of this publication should be taken as a licence to operate under any
patent, nor as a recommendation to infringe any patent.