REGENERATION OF A DEHYDROGENATION CATALYST

A process for regenerating a dehydrogenation catalyst comprises the steps (a)-(f): (a) flushing with inert gas at a pressure of from 0.5 to 2.0 bar and a gas hourly velocity of from 1000 to 50 000 h-1; (b) passing an oxygen-containing gas mixture comprising an inert gas through the catalyst at a pressure of from 2 to 20 bar and a gas hourly velocity of from 1000 to 50 000 h-1 for from 0.25 to 24 hours while increasing the oxygen concentration stepwise or continuously from an initial value of from 0.01 to 1% by volume of O2 to a final value of from 10 to 25% by volume of O2; (c) optionally passing an oxygen-containing gas mixture comprising an inert gas through the catalyst at a pressure of from 0.5 to 20 bar and a gas hourly velocity of from 10 to 500 h-1 for from 0.25 to 100 h, with the oxygen concentration being from 10 to 25% by volume of O2; (d) optionally changing the pressure repeatedly, rapidly and in opposite directions by a factor of from 2 to 20 within the range from 0.5 to 20 bar; (e) flushing with an inert gas; (f) activating the catalyst by means of hydrogen; where at least one of the steps (c) or (d) is carried out and the entire regeneration process is carried out at from 300 to 800° C.