Deactivation of hydroterating catalysts: thiophene HDS and a characterization of spent catalysts

摘要

In refineries hydrotreating catalysts are being replaced about every second year because of their deactivation. Consequently, the whole refinery has to be shut down which means a significant loss of income and high costs for the replacement of the spent catalyst by a regenerated one. If it were possible to understand the nature of the deactivation, we may be able to produce a new generation of catalysts with longer lifetime, thus improving the economics of refineries.