Regeneration of selective hydrogenation catalyst

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF REACTIVATING A PELLETED CATALYTIC MATERIAL CONTAININER 0.1 TO 10% BY WEIGHT OF FINELY-DIVIDED PLATINUM OF ALUMINA USED FOR HYDROGENATING A PETROLEUM PRODUCT CONTAINING SULFUR, WHICH COMPRISES BURNING DEACTIVATING DEPOSITS FROM THE CATALYTIC MATERIAL BY CONTACT WITH AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS AT TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 700* F. TO 1100* F., CONTROLLING THE BURNING BY MAINTAINING THE OXYGEN CONTENT OF THE OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS AT FROM ABOUT 2-6% DURING THE MAJOR PART OF THE REGENERATION SO THAT THE PLATINUM DOES NOT BECOME OXIDIZED BY COMBUSTION OF SAID DEPOSITS DURING THE SAID COMBUSTION, THEREAFTER INCREASING THE OXYGEN CONTENT OF THE REGENERATION GAS UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS THAT THE PLATINUM REMAINS AT A TEMPERATURE OF NOT OVER 1100* F., WHEREBY THE CATALYST IS RENDERED SUITABLE FOR REUSE IN THE PRODUCTIVE PHASE WITHOUT NECESSITATING A REDUCTION STEP.