Reprocessing of Spent Cr-Containing Dehydrogenation Catalyst IM-2201

Spent IM-2201 catalyst containing highly toxic Cr(VI) forms during dehydrogenation of paraffinic hydrocarbons and is traditionally dispositioned by storage in earthen or concrete landfills that have largely run out of room, leading to environmental pollution by toxic Cr-containing wastes. Furthermore, construction of new landfills requires significant investments because reprocessing of Cr-containing wastes for subsequent utilization in the manufacturing of various materials is crucial. The present article reviews published methods for reprocessing Cr-containing catalysts and examines results from laboratory studies on promising directions for reprocessing a spent Cr-containing dehydrogenation catalyst.