Catalytic Cracking is a petroleum refinery process of the reduction molecular weight of hydrocarbons by a catalyst such as alumina, silica, or zeolites in the cracking reaction increases the yield of high-quality products under much less severe operating conditions than in thermal cracking. The Cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons was originally done by thermal cracking, which has been almost completely replaced by the Catalytic Cracking because it produces more gasoline with a higher octane rating.
Reference Definition by EIA: A Catalytic Cracking is a refining process of breaking down the larger, heavier, and more complex hydrocarbon molecules into simpler and lighter molecules. The Catalytic Cracking is accomplished by the use of a catalytic agent and is an effective process for increasing the yield of gasoline from crude oil. The Catalytic Cracking processes fresh feeds: Crude oil or petroleum distillates which are being fed to processing units for the first time, and recycled feeds: Feeds that are continuously fed back for additional processing.
Related Definitions in the Project: The Plant and Process Unit
