Properties Analysis of Spent Catalyst for Fixed-Bed Residue Hydrotreating Unit: Radial Distribution of Deposited Elements in Spent Catalyst Particles

14 spent catalysts, which were sampled from a commercial residue hydrotreating unit at the end of an operation cycle, were analyzed by SEM to describe elements distributions along the radial direction of particles. Different from laboratory equipment, on the whole, V, Ni and S showed U-shaped pattern along the radial direction of spent catalysts. The catalyst bed has been penetrated by deposited metals and deposited massive metals on catalyst, so the pore size of catalyst decreased, diffusion resistance increased and reactants entered internal of the catalysts more difficultly. Most of the organometallic compounds hydrotreated and deposited on outside of the catalyst particles. It is showed that metals deposited on catalyst in forms of metal sulfides because the points of high metal content also have high sulfur contents unexceptionally. The structure of high metal deposition catalyst was destroyed obviously or massive irregular material has deposited on the external surface. It is verified by SEM that there is no any distribution law for deposited elements along the bed height. The change laws of deposited elements along the bed height and radial direction of particles were influenced by various factors in commercial residue hydrotrating. Key words: Residue hydrotreating unit; Spent catalyst; SEM