Regeneration procedure for Fischer-Tropsch catalyst
AssigneeConoco Inc.
InventorHarold A. Wright
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for regenerating catalyst used in a process for synthesizing hydrocarbons. The synthesis process involves contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream comprising hydrocarbons. The regeneration. process comprises contacting a deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a steam under regeneration-promoting conditions, for a period of time sufficient to reactivate the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.
Claims25
A process for regenerating a deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, comprising
- contacting the deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a regeneration gas under regeneration-promoting conditions, for a period of time sufficient to reactivate the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to a level of activity increased at least 50% as compared to the deactivated catalyst, wherein the regeneration gas comprises steam.
A process for regenerating a deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, comprising:
- contacting the deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a regeneration gas under regeneration-promoting conditions including a temperature between about 250° C. and 350° C. and at a pressure between about 10 psig and 350 psig, for a period of time sufficient to reactivate the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to an activity level of 80% of the initial activity level prior to deactivation;
- the regeneration gas comprising steam and less than 10% by volume hydrogen;
- wherein the volume ratio of the regeneration gas to the deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is at least about 3.
A process for producing hydrocarbons, Comprising the steps of
- (a) carrying out a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, comprising
- contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a cobalt-containing catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream comprising hydrocarbons until the activity of the catalyst drops to a first predetermined level,
- (b) carrying out a regeneration of deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, comprising
- contacting the deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with steam under regeneration-promoting conditions, for a period of time sufficient to reactivate the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to a second predetermined level of activity, wherein the second predetermined level of activity is increased at least 50% over the first predetermined level of activity;
- and
- (c) cycling between steps (a) and (b), depending on the status of the catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.