Process for catalyst recovery from a slurry containing residual hydrocarbons

In a system and method for recovering a catalyst, a slurry comprising said catalyst and residual hydrocarbons is heated so as to vaporize hydrocarbons. The vaporized hydrocarbons are separated from the catalyst. The separated catalyst is preferably further contacted with a stripping medium so as to further remove remaining hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, the catalyst is a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst contained in a reactor, preferably a slurry bubble reactor. In some embodiments, the slurry is diluted with additional hydrocarbons, and the residual hydrocarbons comprise waxy hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, substantially all of the hydrocarbons in the slurry are vaporized. In an embodiment, the catalyst is separated from the vaporized hydrocarbons via centrifugation. In an embodiment, substantially all of the hydrocarbons are removed from the catalyst.