Improved collection efficiencies can be gained in Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) in Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCC) by lowering catalyst resistivities. An understanding of how variables influence the catalyst resistivity helps the operator to optimize the ESP. Maintaining a clean ESP is the best way to achieve high collection efficiencies.

The sensitivities of catalyst resisitvites are related to several factors: fresh catalyst to equilibrium catalyst, alumnia content, rare earth content, contaminated metals content, carbon content, ammonia injection, operating temperature and moisture content.