Regeneration of poisoned nickel catalyst by supercritical CO2 extraction

Regeneration of a thiophene-poisoned Ni-supported catalyst was carried out by supercritical CO2 extraction. The catalyst activity was measured in the hydrogenation of 2-butanone to 2-butanol at 373 K and 1.7 MPa. The supercritical extraction was tested over a range of operating conditions. Regeneration at 313 K and 41 MPa for 16 h recovered completely the catalyst activity. Other methods cited in the literature displayed a lower performance in regeneration of Ni catalysts.