Reactivated hydroprocessing catalysts for use in sulfur abatement

Abstract

Described herein are methods, systems, and compositions for providing catalysts for tail gas clean up in sulfur recovery operations. Aspects involve obtaining catalyst that was used in a first process, which is not a tailgas treating process and then using the so-obtained catalyst in a tailgas treating process. For example, the catalyst may originally be a hydroprocessing catalyst. A beneficial aspect of the described methods and systems is that the re-use of spent hydroprocessing catalyst reduces hazardous waste generation by operators from spent catalyst disposal. Ultimately, this helps reduce the environmental impact of the catalyst life cycle. The described methods and systems also provide an economically attractive source of high-performance catalyst for tailgas treatment, which benefits the spent catalyst generator, the catalyst provider, and the catalyst consumer.