Cobalt-containing catalyst composition

A process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor, the process comprising

• introducing a cobalt compound onto and/or into a silica catalyst support wherein the average pore diameter of the catalyst support is more than 20 nm but less than 50 nm as determined by means of Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) nitrogen physisorption analysis;
• prior to and/or during and/or subsequent to introducing the cobalt compound onto and/or into the catalyst support, introducing a titanium compound onto and/or into the catalyst support in an amount more than 1 wt % and not more than 10 wt % Ti, based on the weight of the silica (SiO2) catalyst support (excluding the weight of the Ti and Mn), the Ti being present in the form of one or more titanium compounds;
• and
• prior to, and/or during, and/or subsequent to introducing the cobalt compound onto and/or into the catalyst support, introducing a manganese compound onto and/or into the catalyst support in an amount more than 0.5 wt % and less than 10 wt % Mn, based on the weight of the silica (SiO2) catalyst support (excluding the weight of the Ti and Mn), the Mn being present in the form of one or more manganese compounds, thereby providing a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor.