EURECAT has developed a skillset to rejuvenate your spent Pd based catalyst systems used in selective hydrogenation operations.

1. Reactivation of
Palladium Catalysts
Through extensive R&D efforts, Eurecat has developed a novel method to recover the activity
of spent palladium catalysts. This technology, called Reactivation, involves a multi-step proc-
ess that identifies and carefully removes the contaminants causing deactivation of the cata-
lyst. After treatment with Reactivation, a high performance catalyst can be returned to the cus-
tomer with activity that often approaches the level of fresh catalyst.
Conventional regeneration techniques typically involve exposure of the catalyst to high tem-
peratures under air and/or steam to remove carbon contamination. Our tests have proven that
exothermic treatments such as this almost always lead to sintering of the active palladium
sites, resulting in the permanent loss of catalytic activity. In addition, an “air burn” does little
to remove other catalyst poisons and in fact can permanently bond some otherwise transient
poisons to the active sites.
Eurecat’s Reactivation process is much different than standard regeneration techniques. Each
project begins with a thorough analysis of the spent catalyst to determine the primary deactiva-
tion mechanism and levels of contamination. Once our analysis is complete, a treatment plan
will be developed to regain or tune the desirable catalytic properties . After processing a sample in our pilot
plant, specially developed hydrogenation activity tests are performed to confirm the effectiveness of the pro-
posed treatment plan. Activity test results, including a comparison of the Reactivated catalyst to fresh catalyst,
are presented to the customer for approval prior to processing on the commercial scale (when time allows).
Installed Applications
Chemicals / Petrochemicals Refineries
• Front End Acetylene Hydrogenation • HF Acid Alkylation Pre-treat
• Back End Acetylene Hydrogenation • Sulfuric Acid Alkylation Pre-treat
• MAPD
• First Stage Pygas
Eurecat U.S. Inc Visit us on the web at www.eurecat.com
1331 Gemini, Suite 310 Or send us an email at: info@eurecat.com
Houston, TX 77058
Phone : 281.218.0669

2. Hydro Isom erization Com parison
3.5
As Received Methyl 2-butene
3.0 Fresh Methyl 2-butene
Reactivated Methyl 2-butene
2.5
2.0
Wt%
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
0 18 36 54 72 90 108 126 144 162 180 198
Tim e
Above catalyst installed in a refinery for a hydrofluoric acid alkylation pre-treat application. Butadiene
conversion to the more desirable butene-2 was observed in Eurecat testing. The refinery experienced
an octane boost over 2 points in their alkylate when compared to previously installed charges.
Front-end Ethylene Catalyst
Reactivated isoprene Reactivated isopentene Reactivated isopentane
5.5
Reference isoprene Reference isopentene Reference isopentane
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
0.00 18.00 36.00 54.00 72.00 90.00 108.00 126.00 144.00 162.00 180.00
T ime
Front end total raw gas acetylene converter catalyst installed and operating on its 3rd REACTIVATION cy-
cle (2+ years for each cycle).
Catalyst demonstrates superior selectivity and comparable activity to its reference standard and has
demonstrated a wide range of operational stability thus eliminating flaring incidents from hyper-activity.