Patent GB-1313365-A (GB)
Title: Method of regenerating and reactivating a bed of catalyst
IPC: B01J38/14
Filed: 1970-06-19
Abstract: 1313365 Regeneration of hydrocarbon conversion catalysts ENGELHARD MINERALS & CHEMICALS CORP 19 June 1970 [20 June 1969]. 30007/70 Heading B1E Deactivated catalyst comprising rhenium, Group VIII noble metal and refractory metal oxide support material is regenerated and reactivated by a method which comprises regenerating the catalyst by contact with an oxygencontaining gas at an elevated temperature thereby to burn off carbonaceous material deposited on the catalyst, reducing the regenerated catalyst by contact with a hydrogen-containing essentially hydrocarbon-free gas and sulphiding the regenerated catalyst by contact with a sulphiding agent in the vapour state thereby to reactivate the catalyst, the contact with the hydrogen-conaining gas and the contact with the sulphiding agent being effected either simultaneously or sequentially in the order stated and the amount of sulphiding agent used being at least 25 per cent, for example from 50 to 1000 per cent, of the stoichiometric amount required to provide one atomic weight of sulphur per atomic weight of total rhenium and Group VIII noble metal. The sulphiding agent may be sulphur dioxide or hydrogen sulphide. The contact with the oxygen-containing gas, with the hydrogen-containing gas and with the sulphiding agent may be effected at temperatures of, respectively, from 700 to 1000‹F, from 600 to 1000‹F, and from 650 to 950‹F. After contact with the oxygen-containing gas but before contact with the hydrogen-containing gas, the catalyst may be subjected to an "airsoak" by contact, for example at a temperature of from 800 to 1000‹F, with an oxygen containing gas having an oxygen content which preferably is enhanced relative to the oxygen content of the gas used to regenerate the catalyst. The support material from which the catalyst is prepared preferably has a surface area of at least 150 M<SP>2</SP>/g and may be selected from silica, alumina, zirconia, titania, magnesia and crystalline aluminosilicates; at least a major proportion of the support material preferaby is composed of "gamma-family alumina modifications" (including eta-alumina) derived by calcination of hydrous alumina which is predominantly in the trihydrate form. The catalyst may contain from 0.05 to 3 weight per cent of each of rhenium and Group VIII noble metal which may be selected from ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium and platinum. The catalyst also may contain chlorine, for example in an amount of from 0.2 to 2 weight per cent of the freshly prepared catalyst. A single example relates to the regeneration and reactiyation, by reducing with hydrogen and thereafter sulphiding using a mixture of hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide, of catalyst deactivated by use in reforming petroleum naphtha, the catalyst being in the form of extrudates which, prior to such use, have a surface area of 400-550 m<SP>2</SP>/g and contain 0.6 weight per cent of rhenium, 0.6 weight per cent of platinum, 0.7 weight per cent of chlorine and aumina derived from a hydrous alumina mixture comprising about 75 per cent alumina trihydrate which was predominantly bayerite and nordstrandite (randomite), the essential balance being boehmite and amorphous hydrous, alumina. Reference is made to Specifications 1269764, 1269765, 1313361, 1313362, 1313363, 131364, and 1313366.