The on-site TCM Project Manager will determine the project scope, develop the project plan, create timelines and critical path, and ensure compliance with all environmental and safety regulations.

Fresh Catalyst Management

Catalysts and Products   go to products >

Ex-Situ Pre-sulfiding
Holchem offers the ACTIcat® method of Pre-sulfiding Catalysts. CRLA/Porocel is Holchem’s supplier of pre-sulfiding services and has extensive experience with off-site pre-sulfiding of catalysts at CRLA/Porocel’s facilities. CRLA/Porocel’s technology and flexibility make them the best partner for these services as part of a TCM package. Off-site pre-sulfiding services accelerate and simplify start-up procedures. CRLA/Porocel’s pre-sulfided catalyts offer refiners delivery of a stable, non-toxic and homogeneously sulfided material requiring no further activation. >back to TCM Graph

Catalyst Handling Services
Holchem's TCM begins with either unloading of spent catalysts (self-heating or pyrophoric) or loading of (pre-sulfided) fresh catalysts. Holchem has the specialized knowledge and expertise including inert entries, (vacuum) unloading, loading, skimming, on site screening, reactor cleaning etc. >back to TCM Graph

Holchem operates with the highest level of integrity and environmental responsibility. Our skilled personnel receive regular medical evaluations and continuous world wide on the job training to ensure that they are physically and technically able to perform their tasks efficiently and safely. Holchem ensures that they possess the latest technology and have the most effective and appropriate equipment necessary to perform each service.

Reactor Internals Installation
A new generation of high and super-high activity catalysts have been developed to meet the tight restrictions (<10ppm) for ultra low sulphur fuels production. In order to minimize the capital expenditures required to retrofit existing reactors or build new reactors, the performance of these catalysts must be maximized. This, in turn, means that they must be fully utilized with no margin for error when loaded into the reactor. State-of-the-art reactor internals become absolutely necessary given the incredible precision required in catalyst bypassing and distribution when producing ultra low sulphur fuels. Holchem has extensive experience in installing all types of Reactor Internals, Distribution Trays and Thermosensor devices. >back to TCM Graph

Catalyst Dense Loading Service
Holchem offers certified personnel and licensed catalyst dense loading systems which provide excellent catalytic performance and many additional advantages, such as: Optimal catalyst performance resulting from the uniform and homogenous loading of catalysts and the optimal distribution of liquid feed in the catalyst bed as well as better performance and longer cycle length as result of the ability to load >15% more catalyst in the same volume than is possible with conventional sock loading methods. >back to TCM Graph

Spent Catalyst Management

Pre-burning
CRLA/Porocel’s optiCAT® PlusSM pretreater is effective at removing reactive carbon and sulfur compounds in the "exothermic" stage of regeneration. The fluidized bed provides excellent heat transfer and temperature control and the moving-belt provides a gentle heat soak to remove the remaining carbon and sulphur embedded deep within the catalyst or adsorbent pores. By minimizing the residence time in the fluidized bed and using it only where it's really needed, we avoid particle attrition normally associated with fluidized bed processes. CRLA/Porocel retains the ability to strip precious metal catalysts in inert gas on the regeneration belt. >back to TCM Graph

Rejuvenation and Regeneration
CRLA/Porocel is Holchem’s supplier of catalyst regeneration and rejuvenation and has extensive experience with off-site regeneration of catalysts at their worldwide facilities. CRLA/Porocel’s technology, flexibility and proven results make them the best partner for catalyst regeneration services as part of our TCM package. The regenerability of catalyst batches is determined by testing catalyst quality, activity and performance. These tests evaluate physical properties of the catalysts (surface area, length, strength), as well levels of carbon, sulfur and contaminants. The regeneration process itself is performed off-site, using roto-louvre equipment under closely controlled conditions. >back to TCM Graph

This method guarantees optimal mixing of catalyst particles with heated gases, ensuring a complete and homogenous regeneration of the catalyst. After off-site regeneration, activity recovery makes reuse of catalysts possible in the original or different catalyst units, although occasionally additional screening or length-grading is required to meet these additional client-specific requirements. >back to TCM Graph

Refineries today must adhere to high standards of environmental responsibility and product quality, such as for ultra low-sulfur fuels. Holchem’s Catalyst Reactivation Services deliver optimal and cost-effective refinery performance. >back to TCM Graph

Regenerated catalysts may have an activity level of less than 90%, limiting cycle length and unit profitability, requiring that the refiner buy new catalysts while cascading the reactivate catalysts into less demanding units. Every batch of spent catalysts undergoes quality control analyses to determine whether it is capable of reactivation. CRLA/Porocel, along with major catalyst producers, have developed a reactivation method that results in improved distribution of sintered metals, and increases the activity level of the regenerated catalyst to greater than 90% even when the catalysts have been regenerated multiple times. The refinery benefits from the cost-reduction achieved through longer catalyst lifespan, as well as from improved throughput and unit performance. >back to TCM Graph

Resale or Cascading
Holchem/Porocel has a large inventory of regenerated catalyst available for resale or cascading. Please fill out a request form available on the "Contact Us" page for more information. >back to TCM Graph

Recycling and Reclaiming
Holchem also receives spent base metal catalysts for metal reclaiming. Holchem guarantees full compliance with all (inter)national environmental legislation, including SEMARNAT, UN and Basel Convention, governing the recycling of spent catalysts. All storage and transportation is conducted in UN certified drums or catalyst bins that are specified and required for self-heating catalysts. >back to TCM Graph

Precious Metals Refining
Holchem’s supplier for refining spent catalysts that contain precious metals is Heraeus, a company with more than 150 years of experience in handling and processing of precious metals from primary and secondary sources In the petrochemical industry precious metal containing catalysts are used in various processes. These spent catalysts containing Platinum Metal Group (PGM) precious metals will be recovered. For ethylene-oxide production catalysts containing silver are employed. Here too, Heraeus is a leading global service-partner for silver refining. >back to TCM Graph