Several methods are employed to clean catalysts, each suitable for different types of fouling and catalyst materials. Key methods include:
1. Thermal Treatment: Also known as calcination, this method involves heating the catalyst in the presence of air or an inert atmosphere to remove volatile contaminants. 2. Chemical Washing: This involves using acidic or basic solutions to dissolve and wash away contaminants. 3. Solvent Cleaning: Organic solvents can dissolve organic residues and are particularly useful for removing carbonaceous deposits. 4. Regeneration: This can involve oxidative regeneration where the catalyst is exposed to an oxidizing environment to burn off carbon deposits.
