Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
regenerated catalysts requires less attention, but they should still be properly labeled and any
contact with water should be avoided.
Modes of the transportation included van trailers, dump trucks, railcars, and sea containers.
Generally, the mode of transportation is agreed upon by refiner and the partner who may be
either a catalyst regenerator or reclaimer. It sometimes depends on the refiners' loading
capabilities. In some situations, the handling and loading equipment may be provided by the
partner. The partner should carefully monitor shipments from the initial point to the final
destination. Because of hazardous nature, the companies involved in the transportation of
spent hydroprocessing catalysts must be certified by the regulatory authorities (e.g., in US by
EPA). In some cases, the transportation of spent catalysts may be a part of the agreement
signed between petroleum refinery and a company with total catalyst management (TCM)
certification. Such an agreement may cover all stages of spent catalysts handling.
5.1.3 Recycling and Disposal of Spent Catalysts
Various issues relevant to disposal of spent catalysts addressed in preceding sections are in line
with the summary of governing regulations given by Lavers
[310]
, i.e.:
(1) No waste may be exported to the third world countries without adequate facilities.
(2) No waste may be taken to a facility that is not properly equipped to recycle that waste.
(3) No waste that cannot be recycled, and must therefore be destroyed, must travel any further
than it is absolutely necessary (the proximity principal).
(4) The country or state/province where the waste requiring destruction is generated is
responsible for its destruction.
(5) Hazardous waste for recycling may be shipped to authorized facilities anywhere in the
world, but only under a highly regulated system.
In the case of spent hydroprocessing catalysts, destruction may involve the process in which
most of useful metals in spent catalysts are recovered for reuse either for preparation of
catalysts or in other industrial applications. Recycling may involve the shipment of spent
catalysts to a company capable of regenerating/rejuvenating spent catalysts for reuse. The
disposal of spent hydroprocessing catalysts is only considered after all other utilization options
became unattractive.
It was reinstated several times that special procedures have to be applied during all stages of
handling and utilization of spent hydroprocessing catalysts because of their designation as
hazardous toxic wastes. The petroleum refiner, as the producer of spent hydroprocessing
catalysts, has usually limited capabilities and experience in safe handling of spent catalysts.
