Exploring Methods to Optimize Used Hydroprocessing Catalyst Performance
Evonik, a global leader in the production and provision of catalysts and adsorbents, is making significant strides in environmental protection and waste avoidance with its innovative approach to spent hydroprocessing catalysts management.
For over 75 years, Evonik Catalysts has been a pioneer in the catalyst and adsorbents industry, offering sustainable products, comprehensive services, and expert customer care. Today, the company's commitment to sustainability is more evident than ever, as it leads the charge in the responsible management of spent hydroprocessing catalysts.
Hydroprocessing units, such as hydrotreaters and hydrocrackers, use high-performance catalysts for removing impurities from petroleum streams. However, these units generate thousands of tons of spent hydroprocessing catalysts annually, which often contain significant residual metal content and active material.
Historically, these spent catalysts were often sent to landfill or treated for metal reclamation. But times are changing. Today, reprocessing spent hydroprocessing catalysts for reuse is gaining traction as a smarter alternative.
Evonik's catalyst acquisition program is at the forefront of this movement. This program transforms spent hydroprocessing catalysts into an asset by assessing their full reuse potential, simplifying logistics, and ensuring refiners extract the maximum value from every load.
The program offers a smarter, integrated alternative that helps refiners reduce waste, reclaim value, and improve environmental performance. By focusing on the reuse potential of hydroprocessing catalysts, companies can avoid environmental costs associated with mining virgin metals, reduce hazardous waste generation, and minimize CO2 emissions.
Evonik's unique tiered pricing system rewards customers based on the composition and condition of their spent materials, with recovery of molybdenum (Mo) value ranging from 20-75%. The repurposing process delivers substantial sustainability and cost benefits, including a 60% reduction in waste and CO2 equivalent emissions, and a significant cut in raw material demand.
Jignesh Fifadara, Global Business Director for Hydroprocessing, and Peter Douvry, Head of Catalyst Acquisitions and Specialties at Evonik, are spearheading this initiative. Their Interzero program offers a catalyst provisioning program that recycles used hydroprocessing catalysts by reusing and regenerating their active components and recovering valuable metals such as molybdenum, cobalt, and nickel.
To date, Evonik's approach has kept more than 113,000 tons of spent catalysts out of landfill. This significant achievement underscores the company's dedication to sustainability and its role as a leader in the catalyst and adsorbents industry.
Evonik Industries AG, the company behind Evonik Catalysts, is committed to continuing this work, supporting environmental protection, waste avoidance, and climate protection through innovative and sustainable solutions.
