Catalyst decontamination process

A method for decontaminating a reactor system containing at least one catalyst comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a water-free carrier gas from a water-free carrier gas source at a first mass flow rate;
• b. providing a non-aqueous liquid solvent from a non-aqueous liquid solvent source at a second mass flow rate, and adding said solvent to said carrier gas to create a mist of liquid solvent droplets in carrier gas, wherein said non-aqueous liquid solvent and said carrier gas are provided at a mass flow rate ratio in the range 0.1:1 to 8:1;
• the mist has a temperature in the range 50 to 400° F. and a pressure in the range 50 to 500 psig, wherein a majority of the provided solvent remains a liquid phase in the mist, wherein greater than 50% of the provided solvent remains in liquid form in the mist;
• c. delivering said mist into the reactor system;
• and contacting the delivered mist with at least a first portion of catalyst, wherein the initial temperature of said at least a first portion of catalyst in the reactor is between 250 and 450° F. prior to delivering said solvent mist into the reactor system;
• and
• d. removing contaminants from the reactor system, wherein a substantial amount of said contaminants are solubilized by said solvent and removed from said reactor system in a vapor or liquid form.