In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for regenerating and rejuvenating a spent catalyst comprising coke and contaminant metals includes washing the spent catalyst with a solvent; drying, at least partially, the spent catalyst; partially combusting the spent catalyst to remove a portion of the coke, thereby producing a partially de-coked catalyst; acid washing the partially de-coked catalyst; and fully combusting the partially de-coked catalyst, thereby producing a regenerated and rejuvenated catalyst. The portion of the coke removed during the partial combustion is greater than or equal to 10 wt. % and less than or equal to 60 wt. %. No rare earth elements are added to the partially de-coked catalyst prior to the fully combusting the partially de-coked catalyst.

A catalytic upgrading process includes introducing a feed comprising crude oil to a steam cracking unit, thereby producing pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO). The PFO is introduced to a first catalytic depolyaromatization reactor to remove polyaromatics from the feed, thereby producing polyaromatics adsorbed to the catalyst and depolyaromatized PFO. The depolyaromatized PFO is introduced to a hydrocracking unit. The resulting benzene-toluene-xylenes (BTX) and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are separated, and the BTX is introduced to a BTX complex to produce refined BTX. The LPG can then be introduced to the steam cracking unit. After depolyaromatization, a wash solvent is introduced into the first catalytic depolyaromatization reactor to remove the polyaromatics, regenerate the catalyst, and produce a mixture comprising the wash solvent and the polyaromatics. The wash solvent is separated from the polyaromatics.

A catalytic upgrading process includes introducing a feed comprising crude oil to a first catalytic deasphalting reactor to deasphalt the feed, thereby producing polymerized asphaltenes and deasphalted oil (DAO). The DAO is introduced to a steam cracking unit, thereby producing pyrolysis gas (PG), which is introduced into a selective hydrogenation unit, thereby producing an olefin-free product, which can then be introduced to a separation unit. The resulting benzene-toluene-xylenes (BTX)-containing stream and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) are separated, and the BTX-containing stream is introduced to a BTX complex to produce refined BTX. After deasphalting, a wash solvent may be introduced into the first catalytic deasphalting reactor to remove the polymerized asphaltenes, regenerate the catalyst, and produce a mixture comprising the wash solvent and the polymerized asphaltenes. The wash solvent is separated from the polymerized asphaltenes.

There are provided methods of treating a catalyst-containing reactor system with a liquid solvent to remove contaminants from the reactor system. An exemplary method includes the steps of: isolating the reactor system to be treated from upstream and downstream equipment; reducing the temperature and pressure of the isolated reactor system by flushing with a hydrogen rich gas; injecting a non-aqueous liquid solvent into the reactor system at an injection point while continuously flowing hydrogen-rich gas through the reactor system; maintaining the solvent in a liquid state while flowing the solvent continuously through the reactor system; and terminating the step of injecting solvent and terminating the continuous flowing of hydrogen-rich gas. The exemplary method is free of the injecting of a carrier gas into the reactor system comprising alkanes selected from the methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane.

A regeneration method for a benzene alkylation solid acid catalyst, comprising: purging the solid acid catalyst in a reactor with a gas; continuously injecting n-hexane at a feed port of the reactor and heating the n-hexane to wash the solid acid catalyst, and discharging the n-hexane entraining benzene alkylation reaction residues from a discharge port of the reactor; and stopping injecting n-hexane, cleaning off a liquid in the reactor by purging with the gas, and cooling the reactor. In the regeneration method of the present disclosure, the regeneration liquid used is n-hexane, which can increase the solubility of the residues in channels and enhance the regeneration effect. Meanwhile, permanent damage to the channel structure of the catalyst caused by carbon burning regeneration can be avoided, thereby prolonging the lifetime of the catalyst.

A regeneration method for a benzene alkylation solid acid catalyst, comprising: purging the solid acid catalyst in a reactor with a gas; continuously injecting n-hexane at a feed port of the reactor and heating the n-hexane to wash the solid acid catalyst, and discharging the n-hexane entraining benzene alkylation reaction residues from a discharge port of the reactor; and stopping injecting n-hexane, cleaning off a liquid in the reactor by purging with the gas, and cooling the reactor. In the regeneration method of the present disclosure, the regeneration liquid used is n-hexane, which can increase the solubility of the residues in channels and enhance the regeneration effect. Meanwhile, permanent damage to the channel structure of the catalyst caused by carbon burning regeneration can be avoided, thereby prolonging the lifetime of the catalyst.

Compositions and methods for restoring catalytic activity by dissolving soft coke with a solvent, one method including detecting soft coke deposition on a catalyst composition; preparing an aromatic bottoms composition with a Hildebrand solubility parameter of at least about 20 SI to remove the soft coke from the catalyst composition; and washing the catalyst composition with the aromatic bottoms composition until at least a portion of the soft coke deposition is removed.

Compositions and methods for restoring catalytic activity by dissolving soft coke with a solvent, one method including detecting soft coke deposition on a catalyst composition; preparing an aromatic bottoms composition with a Hildebrand solubility parameter of at least about 20 SI to remove the soft coke from the catalyst composition; and washing the catalyst composition with the aromatic bottoms composition until at least a portion of the soft coke deposition is removed.

There are provided methods of treating a catalyst-containing reactor system with a liquid solvent to remove contaminants from the reactor system. An exemplary method includes the steps of: isolating the reactor system to be treated from upstream and downstream equipment; reducing the temperature and pressure of the isolated reactor system by flushing with a hydrogen rich gas; injecting a non-aqueous liquid solvent into the reactor system at an injection point while continuously flowing hydrogen-rich gas through the reactor system; maintaining the solvent in a liquid state while flowing the solvent continuously through the reactor system; and terminating the step of injecting solvent and terminating the continuous flowing of hydrogen-rich gas. The exemplary method is free of the injecting of a carrier gas into the reactor system comprising alkanes selected from the methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane.

There are provided methods of treating a catalyst-containing reactor system with a liquid solvent to remove contaminants from the reactor system. An exemplary method includes the steps of: isolating the reactor system to be treated from upstream and downstream equipment; reducing the temperature and pressure of the isolated reactor system by flushing with a hydrogen rich gas; injecting a non-aqueous liquid solvent into the reactor system at an injection point while continuously flowing hydrogen-rich gas through the reactor system; maintaining the solvent in a liquid state while flowing the solvent continuously through the reactor system; and terminating the step of injecting solvent and terminating the continuous flowing of hydrogen-rich gas. The exemplary method is free of the injecting of a carrier gas into the reactor system comprising alkanes selected from the methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane.