Experimental methodologies to perform accelerated deactivation studies of hydrotreating catalysts

A comprehensive review of the scientific literature over the last two decades is conducted to have a clear understanding of the factors that accelerate the deactivation of hydrotreating (HDT) catalysts. The reported experimental methodologies employed at laboratory and pilot plant scales focused on achieving accelerated deactivation of HDT catalysts are reviewed and discussed. The different methodologies attempt to reproduce industrial long-term catalysts deactivation by using different operating conditions (mainly high reaction temperature and low H2-to-oil ratio) or feedstock with high content of compounds that cause coke and metal deposition, in short-term experiments.