PTQ Q2 2026 Issue

ACE u nit y ield d istribution l ab- sc ale t esting with Customer Z feed

Yield improvement with SaFeGuard ∆ relative to U pgrader baseline

0.6

+0.58

U pgrader SaFeGuard

+0.46

0.4

+0.23

0.2

+0.07

0.0

-0.01

-0.05

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.58

-0.63

Product

Figure 6 ACE unit yield comparison and delta analysis @ 62% conversion

with both of the catalyst factors and comparing the pre- dicted yields under both operating conditions. This corre- lation demonstrates that the performance improvements are indeed attributable to fundamental catalyst property changes (accessibility, selectivity) rather than artefacts of operating condition variations or measurement uncertainty. Laboratory-scale performance validation Laboratory performance validation was conducted in an ACE unit, an industrially recognised fluidised bed reactor designed to simulate commercial FCC operations closely. E-cat samples from both the Upgrader baseline period and the SaFeGuard trial period were evaluated side-by-side using Customer Z feed and conditions to isolate catalyst performance differences. Figure 6 represents the com- prehensive yield comparison between the two proprietary E-cat samples, confirming the performance advantages of SaFeGuard observed in the E-cat characterisation. The ACE data demonstrates several key performance improvements, including: Bottoms cracking: The most significant improvement was observed in bottoms conversion, with 650°F+ bottoms reduced by 0.57 wt% at constant overall conversion. Bulky, high-boiling molecules that struggle to access catalyst pores in the Upgrader catalyst can effectively diffuse and crack with SaFeGuard. Coke selectivity: Coke yield decreased by 0.63 wt%, despite higher activity, which means the coke formation from secondary reactions (dehydrogenation) was reduced, a substantial reduction representing improved hydrogen balance and more selective cracking. Light olefins production: Propylene yield increased by 0.07 wt% and C 4 olefins by 0.23 wt%, valuable products for pet - rochemical applications. The higher olefin selectivity indi - cates more optimal cracking pathways enabled by better pore access. Gasoline and LCO: Significant increases in gasoline (+0.46 wt%) and light cycle oil (LCO) (+0.57 wt%) were observed,

consistent with improved bottoms upgrading. The LCO increase reflects enhanced cracking of the feed’s heavier fraction. Dry gas: A modest reduction in dry gas (0.05 wt%) indi- cates less overcracking and better selectivity control. Operational benefits and economic impact Beyond the direct yield improvements, SaFeGuard deliv- ered several operational and economic benefits, including reduced catalyst addition rate, improved catalyst circula- tion, lower regenerator temperature, and enhanced feed flexibility. For refineries pursuing circular economy initiatives or renewable feed co-processing, this expanded feedstock flexibility is strategically valuable During the trial, Customer Z operated at approximately 8% lower catalyst addition rate compared to the Upgrader baseline period while achieving superior performance. This reduces annual catalyst costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars. The higher ABD and preserved particle morphology resulted in better catalyst circulation characteristics. No changes in attrition index or particle size distribution were observed during the transition, indicating SaFeGuard main- tains physical integrity comparable to Upgrader. The ability to maintain performance at higher iron levels enabled increased VTB processing. For refineries pursu - ing circular economy initiatives or renewable feed co-pro- cessing, this expanded feedstock flexibility is strategically valuable. Based on an economic analysis for a 45,000 BPD FCC

PTQ Q2 2026