PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OR REACTIVATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE HYDROGENATION CATALYSTS

A process for the preparation of a catalyst useful for conducting carbon monoxide hydrogenation reactions, especially Fischer-Tropsch reactions. The steps of the process begin with the activation, or reactivation, of a deactivated catalyst, or with the preparation and activation of a fresh catalyst. In accordance with the latter, the steps of the process comprise, first contacting, in one or more steps, a powder or preformed, particulate refractory inorganic support with a liquid, or solution in which there is dispersed or dissolved a compound, or salt of a catalytically active metal, or metals, to impregnate and deposit the metal, or metals, upon the support, or powder. The metal, or metals, impregnated support is calcined following each impregnation step to form oxides of the deposited metal, or metals. The calcined catalyst precursor is then treated with a solution of a chelating compound, preferably a poly- or multidentate chelating compound, sufficient to complex with, extract and remove a portion of the oxides of the metal, or metals. The catalyst is activated by reduction; suitably by contact with hydrogen. In the activation, or reactivation of a deactivated catalyst, the catalyst is first treated with the chelating compound to extract a portion of the oxides of the metal, or metals, and the catalyst is then reduced. In either event, the activated or reactivated catalyst has high activity, or high C5+ selectivity, or both high activity and C5+ selectivity in conducting carbon monoxide hydrogenation reactions. The productivity of the process is increased.