| abstract |
Spent liq. phthalocyanine catalysts which have been used for sweetening hydrocarbon streams are regenerated by percolating through a bed of activated charcoal or gamma-Al2O3 at 0-300 degrees C and 1-100 atm. with a LHSV of 0.5-10, and then adding a phthalocyanine. Catalysts comprises a Co, V, Fe, Cu, Ni or Cr phthalocyanine dispersed in a caustic medium contg. a hydroxide of Na, K, Ca, Rb, Sr, Cs, Ba, Fr, Li or Be. Process avoids disposal of the spent caustic. The phthalocyanine is pref. in the form of a sulphonated deriv. esp. the tetrasulphonate. |