Pillared clays: catalytic evaluation in heavy oil cracking using a microactivity test

Abstract Pillared clays with Al and AlGa polyoxycations were prepared and characterized in order to obtain materials suitable as active components in catalysts for heavy oil cracking, evaluated using a microactivity test (MAT). DRX measurements and textural parameters at different calcination temperatures showed the highest thermal stability for the AlGa-PILC sample ( d 0 0 1 =17.3 A; S BET and V micropores remained around 85% at 700°C with respect to the pillared material). The AlGa sample also showed higher gas oil cracking conversion and olefin production than the Al-PILC sample.