Regeneration of a molybdenum oxide containing catalyst employed in the hydrogenation of lubricating oils

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF TREATING SULFUR-CONTAINING LUBRICATING OILS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING SAID SULFUR CONTENT WHICH COMPRISES, SUBJECTING A LUBRICATING OIL TO HYDROGENATION IN THE PRESENCE OF A MOLYBDENUM OXIDE-CONTAINING CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 450*F. TO 650*F. IN A REACTION ZONE, SEPARATING THE REACTION PRODUUCTS FROM SAID REACTION ZONE, RECOVERING A REFINED LUBRICATING OIL FROM SAID REACTION PRODUCTS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS REDUCED NEUTRALIZATION NUMBER, REGENERATING THE CATALYST IN SAID REACTION ZONE BY TREATMENT WITH AN OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE CONTAINING WATER VAPOR AT A TERMPERATURE OF ABOUT 900* TO 1150*F. FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO CONVERT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE MOLYBDENUM OXIDE CONTENT OF SAID CATALYST TO A HIGHER OXIDIZED STATE, TERMINATING SAID REGENERATING, PURGING SAID CATALYST WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY MOISTURE-FREE, GASEOUS MEDIUM AT A TEMPERATURE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 750* TO 1200*F. FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE WATER PRESENT IN AND ON SAID CATALYST, COOLING SAID CATALYST TO REACTION TEMPERATURE WITHOUT ALLOWING CONTACT OF SAME WITH WATER AT TEMPERTURES ABOVE ABOUT 700*F., AND CONTINUING SAID HYDROGENATION REACTION IN THE PRESENCE OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID REGENERATED CATALYST.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF TREATING SULFUR-CONTAINING LUBRICATING OILS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING SAID SULFUR CONTENT WHICH COMPRISES, SUBJECTING A LUBRICATING OIL TO HYDROGENATION IN THE PRESENCE OF A MOLYBDENUM OXIDE-CONTAINING CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 450*F. TO 650*F. IN A REACTION ZONE, SEPARATING THE REACTION PRODUUCTS FROM SAID REACTION ZONE, RECOVERING A REFINED LUBRICATING OIL FROM SAID REACTION PRODUCTS CHARACTERIZED BY ITS REDUCED NEUTRALIZATION NUMBER, REGENERATING THE CATALYST IN SAID REACTION ZONE BY TREATMENT WITH AN OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE CONTAINING WATER VAPOR AT A TERMPERATURE OF ABOUT 900* TO 1150*F. FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO CONVERT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE MOLYBDENUM OXIDE CONTENT OF SAID CATALYST TO A HIGHER OXIDIZED STATE, TERMINATING SAID REGENERATING, PURGING SAID CATALYST WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY MOISTURE-FREE, GASEOUS MEDIUM AT A TEMPERATURE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 750* TO 1200*F. FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE WATER PRESENT IN AND ON SAID CATALYST, COOLING SAID CATALYST TO REACTION TEMPERATURE WITHOUT ALLOWING CONTACT OF SAME WITH WATER AT TEMPERTURES ABOVE ABOUT 700*F., AND CONTINUING SAID HYDROGENATION REACTION IN THE PRESENCE OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID REGENERATED CATALYST.