Recycling of spent hydroprocessing catalysts: EURECAT technology

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Progress; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670120205· OSTI ID:6769187

Berrebi, G; Dufresne, P; Jacquier, Y ^[1]

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1. European Reprocessing Catalysts, La Voulte Sur Rhone (France)

Disposal of spent catalysts is a growing concern for all refiners. Environmental regulations are becoming stricter and stricter and state recommendations are to develop disposal routes which would emphasize recycling as much as possible, and processing the wastes as near as possible to the production center. In this context, EURECAT has developed a recycling process for the hydroprocessing catalysts used in oil refineries (NiMo, CoMo, NiW on alumina or mixed alumina silica). The process starts with a regeneration of the catalyst to eliminate hydrocarbons, carbon and sulfur. After a caustic roasting, the material is leached to obtain a solution containing mainly molybdenum (or tungsten) and vanadium and a solid containing essentially alumina, cobalt and/or nickel. Molybdenum and vanadium are separated by an ion exchange resin technique. The solid is processed in an arc furnace to separate the alumina. Nickel and cobalt are separated by conventional solvent extraction to obtain pure metal. Alumina is disposed of as an inert slag. The strength of the process lies in the combination of proven technologies applied by companies whose reliability in their respective field is well known. The aspects concerning spent catalyst handling, packaging and transport are also discussed. 13 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 6769187
• Journal Information: Environmental Progress; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Progress; (United States) Vol. 12:2; ISSN 0278-4491; ISSN ENVPDI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
CATALYSTS
COBALT
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
NICKEL
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PROCESSING
RECYCLING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN
VANADIUM
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING