In which process is hydrogen used in combination with a catalyst?

Hydrocracking is a refining process where hydrogen is used in combination with a catalyst to convert heavy crude oil fractions into lighter and more valuable products, such as diesel and jet fuel. This process not only requires the high temperatures and pressures typical of hydrocracking but also relies on the presence of hydrogen to facilitate the breaking of large hydrocarbon molecules.

The use of a catalyst in hydrocracking is crucial as it helps to increase the efficiency of the reaction, allowing it to occur at lower temperatures compared to non-catalytic processes. The catalyst promotes the reaction by providing an alternative pathway that lowers the energy barrier, thus enhancing the rate at which heavy hydrocarbons are converted into lighter fractions while simultaneously saturating the resulting products, which is important for achieving a higher quality fuel.

In contrast, processes like cracking or distillation do not utilize hydrogen in combination with a catalyst in the same manner as hydrocracking. Cracking typically involves the thermal breakdown of hydrocarbons without the need for hydrogen, and distillation is a physical separation process based on differences in boiling points, rather than a chemical transformation that would involve hydrogen and catalysts. Reforming does utilize hydrogen but primarily focuses on rearranging hydrocarbons to produce high-octane gasoline components rather than breaking