A method of restoring catalytic activity of a spent hydroprocessing catalyst, a spent hydroprocessing catalyst having restored catalytic activity and a hydroprocessing process

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Disclosed is method for restoring catalytic activity to a hydroprocessing catalyst that has become spent due to its use or to the deposition of carbon thereon. The method includes a carbon reduction step whereby carbon is removed from the spent hydroprocessing catalyst in a controlled manner to within a specifically defined concentration range. Following the carbon removal step the resulting catalyst, having a reduced concentration of carbon is subjected , to a chelation treatment whereby the resulting carbon-reduced catalyst is contacted with a chelating agent and aged for a time period necessary for realizing the benefit from the controlled carbon reduction step. In a preferred …