Method to recover spent hydroprocessing catalyst activity

A method for regenerating and rejuvenating a spent catalyst comprising coke and contaminant metals, the method comprising

• washing the spent catalyst with a solvent to produce a washed, spent catalyst;
• drying, at least partially, the washed, spent catalyst to product a dried, spent catalyst;
• partially combusting the dried, spent catalyst to remove a portion of the coke, thereby producing a partially de-coked catalyst;
• acid washing the partially de-coked catalyst to produce an acid-washed, partially-decoked catalyst;
• and
• fully combusting the acid-washed, partially de-coked catalyst, thereby producing a regenerated and rejuvenated catalyst;
• wherein the portion of the coke removed during the partially combusting is greater than or equal to 10 wt. % and less than or equal to 60 wt. %;
• and no rare earth elements are added to the partially de-coked catalyst prior to the fully combusting the partially de-coked catalyst.