Patent ID: 7385097

Claim:
A process for the purification of a diolefin hydrocarbon stream containing acetylene and sulfur compounds and the cyclic regeneration of an at least partially spent selective hydrogenation catalyst containing at least one metal which process comprises: (a) introducing the diolefin hydrocarbon stream containing acetylene and sulfur compounds, and elemental hydrogen into a selective hydrogenation zone containing selective hydrogenation catalyst to selectively hydrogenate at least a portion of the acetylene and to produce an at least partially spent selective hydrogenation catalyst containing metal sulfide and polymer; (b) passing the resulting effluent from the selective hydrogenation zone in step (a) to recover a diolefinic hydrocarbon stream having a reduced concentration of acetylene; (c) contacting the at least partially spent selective hydrogenation catalyst containing metal sulfide in the selective hydrogenation zone with a hot hydrogen stream to chemically reduce at least a portion of the metal sulfide; (d) contacting the selective hydrogenation catalyst from step (c) with an oxygen containing gaseous stream to combust the polymer content therefrom and to thereby increase hydrogenation activity; and (e) introducing the diolefin hydrocarbon stream containing acetylene and sulfur compounds, and elemental hydrogen into the selective hydrogenation zone after contact with the oxygen containing gaseous stream.