Why spent refinery catalyst counts as hazardous waste
What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.
not regulated (fresh FCC); UN3190 or UN2881 for self-heating spent catalyst
Dust exposure in handling; nickel compounds are classified carcinogens; spent catalyst can self-heat.
Main rules
Where
Rule
Effect
EU
REACH; nickel compounds listed as carcinogenic; spent catalysts as hazardous waste (EWC 16 08)
drives closed-loop reclamation
US
RCRA listed hazardous waste K171 and K172 for spent hydrotreating and hydrorefining catalyst
spent catalyst must be regenerated or reclaimed
Global
Fuel sulphur standards (Euro 6, US Tier 3, IMO 2020)
sustains hydroprocessing catalyst demand
India
Rule
Effect
Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules 2016 (spent catalysts are hazardous waste)
spent catalyst handled by authorised recyclers
BS-VI fuel standard (April 2020)
10 ppm sulphur fuels require deep hydrotreating
Trade measures
China export controls on some rare earth technologies and elements (2023-2025) are a supply-chain risk for lanthanum (rare_earths tile)
Supply risk
Few suppliers and dependence on Chinese lanthanum. Lanthanum and cerium are on EU and US critical mineral lists as rare earths. Ownership is shifting to private equity (Ketjen) and private owners (Grace).