Process for reactivating an iridium-containing catalyst

Abstract

This invention relates to improvements in a process for treating a catalyst, or bed of catalyst, comprised of a composite of an iridium metal or admixture of said metal with other metals, particularly platinum, or admixtures of iridium and platinum with other metals, halogen, and a refractory porous inorganic oxide, notably alumina which has been deactivated by coke deposition thereon, as commonly occurs in a hydroconversion reactions, notably as in upgrading virgin or cracked naphthas in catalytic reforming to produce higher octane products. The time required for reactivation of such catalyst can be shortened by deliberate agglomeration of the iridium, or admixture of iridium and other metal hydrogenation-dehydrogenation components, above about seventy percent, and preferably by essentially complete agglomeration of the iridium, or admixture of iridium and other metal hydrogenation-dehydrogenation components, prior to one or more cycles of sequential reduction/halogenation treatments. The desired high agglomeration of the iridium, or admixture of iridium and other metal hydrogenation-dehydrogenation components, is preferably accomplished by a relatively severe coke burn which not only achieves the desired agglomeration, but also more efficiently and effectively removes the coke from the coked catalyst.