COKE VERSUS METAL DEACTIVATION OF RESIDUE HYDRODEMETALLIZATION CATALYSTS

Samples of used residue hydrodemetallization catalysts prepared by hydrotreating a Safanyia atmospheric residue have been characterized and tested using model compounds in order to investigate the initial deactivation of the catalyst. Samples containing 4 to 10 wt % carbon and less than 200 wt ppm V or 10 to 15 wt % carbon and 1.3 wt % V have been obtained from tests in batch and continuous flow reactors respectively. It is shown that in the early stage of the catalyst deactivation a small amount of vanadium is more deactivating than a large amount of carbon.