Patent ID: 7670568

Claim:
A system for reactivating a catalyst, comprising: at least one reactor configured to hold at least one catalyst at least partially deactivated by fouling agents; a first pumping device operably coupled to direct a fluid reactivating agent into contact with the at least one catalyst in the at least one reactor, wherein the fluid reactivating agent comprises a source of hydride ions and is capable of reacting with impurities comprising at least one fouling agent; control devices configured to generate pressure and temperature conditions in the at least one reactor while the at least one catalyst is in contact with the fluid reactivating agent to maintain the fluid reactivating agent at or above a critical point of the fluid reactivating agent; a second pumping device operably coupled to a line configured to direct contaminated fluid reactivating agent to a reactivating agent recovery, the contaminated fluid reactivating agent including the fluid reactivating agent and the at least one fouling agent; and a third pumping device operably coupled to a line configured to recirculate clean fluid reactivating agent from the reactivating agent recovery to the at least one reactor.