Methods of treating and sulfiding hydroconversion catalysts

A method of treating a hydroconversion catalyst, the method comprising:

• (a) combining an inactive hydroconversion catalyst with a solid hydrocarbon containing material having a melting point of 50° C. or greater to produce an unsulfided hydroconversion catalyst/solid hydrocarbon containing material mixture;
• and
• (b) sulfiding the inactive hydroconversion catalyst by contacting the unsulfided hydroconversion catalyst/solid hydrocarbon containing material mixture with a gaseous stream comprising hydrogen (H2) and a sulfur containing compound at a temperature sufficient to sulfide the inactive hydroconversion catalyst and carbonize at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing material on the sulfided inactive hydroconversion catalyst to obtain a treated sulfided hydroconversion catalyst.