To provide a method by which the regeneration rate is increased and the deterioration of the catalytic activity is minimized for a long time, if the regeneration is repeated by specifying each of the treatment temperatures, in a method for catalytically treating zeolite used for chemical reaction with gas containing a molecule-state oxygen after its catalytic treatment with nitrogen when regenerating the zeolite.
When regenerating zeolite used for liquid phase hydration reaction of olefin using a zeolite catalyst, the zeolite is catalytically treated with a gas containing a molecule-state oxygen at 400°C or higher after catalytic treatment with nitrogen at 80-500°C. If the zeolite is thermally treated under a nitrogen gas atmosphere, the decomposition and desorption reactions of an organic matter on the zeolite presumably take place preferentially by an action at a melting point of the zeolite. Consequently, it is presumed that most of the organic matter on the catalyst wound be removed without a caulking phenomenon such as polymerization. Further, it is presumed that the organic matter wound be completely removed without changing the struction and the nature of activity point of the catalyst by catalytically treating the zeolite with the gas containing the molecule-state oxygen after reducing the amount of the organic matter.
TSUKUMO TAKASHI
WATANABE KOJI
