Method for the start-up of a catalytic process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for starting up a hydrotreating process using a bulk metal catalyst, said process comprising the steps of: i) providing a hydrocarbon feed stream containing less than 100 ppmw nitrogen-containing species; ii) adding a nitrogen-containing compound to said hydrocarbon feed stream; and iii) contacting the resultant feed stream with the bulk metal catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and a sulfur-containing species. The present invention also relates to a process for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feedstock, said process comprising the steps of: i) providing a hydrocarbon feed stream containing less than 100 ppmw nitrogen-containing species; ii) adding a nitrogen-containing compound to said hydrocarbon feed stream; iii) contacting the resultant feed stream with a bulk metal catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and a sulfur-containing species; and iv) subsequently contacting the resultant bulk metal catalyst with the hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of hydrogen.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.