Fischer-tropsch catalyst enhancement

A regenerated supported metal catalyst for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Re and Pt, said catalyst being regenerated by:

• a) decreasing the hydrocarbon content;
• b) impregnating under a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one member selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts, alkyl ammonium salts and weak organic acids, optionally including ammonia,
• c) oxidizing with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution;
• d) reducing with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures, and

A process for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to produce a mixture of hydrocarbons in at least one slurry reactor utilizing a supported catalyst, said catalyst comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Re and Pt, said process comprising:

• a) withdrawing a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and a portion of said catalyst from a reactor;
• b) decreasing the hydrocarbon content;
• c) impregnating under a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one member selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts, alkyl ammonium salts and weak organic acids, optionally including ammonia;
• d) oxidizing with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution;
• e) reducing with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures, and
• f) returning at least a portion of the catalyst in at least one reactor for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide.

A regenerated supported metal catalyst for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Re and Pt, said catalyst being regenerated by:

• a) withdrawing a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and a portion of said catalyst from a reactor;
• b) decreasing the hydrocarbon content;
• c) impregnating under a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one member selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts, alkyl ammonium salts and weak organic acids, optionally including ammonia;
• d) oxidizing with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution;
• and
• e) reducing with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures,