Layered cracking catalyst and method of manufacture and use thereof

Abstract

A layered catalyst contains a core of at least one, and preferably three, molecular sieve components within a shell layer of reduced molecular sieve content. A preferred catalyst consists of a core of a large pore molecular sieve, preferably a dealuminized Y-type zeolite, a shape selective paraffin cracking/isomerization component, preferably HZSM-5, and a shape selective aliphatic aromatization component, preferably gallium ZSM-5, within a shell of an alumina-rich, matrix. The shell can capture metals from the feeds being processed, it can act as a metals sink, and can remove metals from the unit by attrition. The catalyst is preferably prepared by forming the core and then coating or encapsulating the core with a shell having a reduced molecular sieve content. The shell may contain a pillared clay or other very large pore cracking component. The shell may be an attritable coating of an amorphous rare earth oxide, aluminum oxide and aluminum phosphate composite, which traps metals.