Methods, systems, and compositions related to the recycling and/or recovery of activating materials from activated aluminum are disclosed. In one embodiment, an aqueous solution's composition may be controlled to maintain aluminum ions dissolved in solution during reaction of an activated aluminum. In another embodiment, aluminum hydroxide containing the activating materials may be dissolved into an aqueous solution to isolate the activating materials.

Methods, systems, and compositions related to the recycling and/or recovery of activating materials from activated aluminum are disclosed. In one embodiment, an aqueous solution's composition may be controlled to maintain aluminum ions dissolved in solution during reaction of an activated aluminum. In another embodiment, aluminum hydroxide containing the activating materials may be dissolved into an aqueous solution to isolate the activating materials.

The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene glycol including the steps of: (i) reacting, in a reactor, at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 170° C. to equal to or less than 270° C., at least a portion of a carbohydrate source in the presence of hydrogen, a solvent, a homogeneous catalyst, which homogeneous catalyst contains tungsten, and a heterogeneous catalyst, which heterogeneous catalyst contains one or more transition metals from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, yielding ethylene glycol and a spent heterogeneous catalyst; (ii) regenerating the spent heterogeneous catalyst by removing at least a portion of deposited tungsten species from the spent heterogeneous catalyst, yielding a regenerated heterogeneous catalyst; and (iii) using at least a portion of the regenerated heterogeneous catalyst as heterogeneous catalyst in the reaction of step (i). The invention further relates to a regenerated heterogeneous catalyst composition obtainable therein.

A system and method for processing a treated feed slurry produced by a slurry reactor. The method and system include mixing a chemical separation feed with the treated feed slurry produced by the slurry reactor to chemically separate solid catalyst particles in the treated feed slurry by dissolving the solid catalyst particles using an acid or base in the chemical separation feed. A heavy oil upgrading process that includes the system and method is also described.

A system and method for processing a treated feed slurry produced by a slurry reactor. The method and system include mixing a chemical separation feed with the treated feed slurry produced by the slurry reactor to chemically separate solid catalyst particles in the treated feed slurry by dissolving the solid catalyst particles using an acid or base in the chemical separation feed. A heavy oil upgrading process that includes the system and method is also described.

A method of reducing impurities in a catalyst for the production of purified terephthalic acid includes forming purified terephthalic acid by hydrogenating crude terephthalic acid with a catalyst in a reactor; separating the purified terephthalic acid from the catalyst and reactivating the catalyst by washing with a caustic solution; and flushing the catalyst contaminated with impurities with a non-caustic liquid at a flushing temperature of greater than or equal to 50° C.

A method of reducing impurities in a catalyst for the production of purified terephthalic acid includes forming purified terephthalic acid by hydrogenating crude terephthalic acid with a catalyst in a reactor; separating the purified terephthalic acid from the catalyst and reactivating the catalyst by washing with a caustic solution; and flushing the catalyst contaminated with impurities with a non-caustic liquid at a flushing temperature of greater than or equal to 50° C.

A method of regenerating an activated carbon catalyst which is used in the production of polysulphide liquor. In the method, the catalyst is washed with a washing liquid in order to remove the sediment accumulated in the catalyst. According to the present invention, in this case, the activated carbon catalyst is regenerated most suitably by bringing it to a multi-stage washing which comprises at least one washing step in which the washing liquid used comprises sodium sulphide, and one washing step in which acidic washing liquid is used. The sulphur precipitate is peeled off using sodium sulphide, and the iron and other metals can be effectively removed by using an acidic washing, without damaging the catalyst.

A method of regenerating an activated carbon catalyst which is used in the production of polysulphide liquor. In the method, the catalyst is washed with a washing liquid in order to remove the sediment accumulated in the catalyst. According to the present invention, in this case, the activated carbon catalyst is regenerated most suitably by bringing it to a multi-stage washing which comprises at least one washing step in which the washing liquid used comprises sodium sulphide, and one washing step in which acidic washing liquid is used. The sulphur precipitate is peeled off using sodium sulphide, and the iron and other metals can be effectively removed by using an acidic washing, without damaging the catalyst.

The present invention relates to a method for the reactivation of homogeneous catalyst systems from organic reaction mixtures. The catalyst systems are suitable for the oxidation of organic compounds such as, for example, cyclododecene. The reactivation is carried out using an aqueous base.