Mechanistic insights into the interaction between binders and Y-type zeolites in fluid catalytic cracking

•Nature of binder influences textural properties, acidity and atoms redistribution in REUSY zeolite.•Alumina sol blocks the pore channels and destructs the framework of REUSY zeolite.•Silica sol enhances zeolite structure stability by forming new Si-O tetrahedrons in silicon hydroxyl nests.•The colloidal sol of pseudo boehmite interacts with zeolite in the way similar to that of alumina sol.