RECYCLING SPENT CATALYST BECOMES ATTRACTIVE AS METAL PRICES RISE.

Rising metal prices and new recovery facilities have made the recycling of spent catalyst from refining operations not only environmentally but economically attractive. The author gives two reasons to explain the growing sale of spent catalyst containing non-noble metals: (1) the scarcity of certain metals in recent years, and (2) the increasing use of catalyst by the refining industry. Growing use in turn means more spent catalyst for disposal. Recent trends in hydroprocessing catalyst recycling are discussed.