Catalysts

A process for producing a supported cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, which process includes

• in a first activation stage, treating a particulate supported cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst precursor comprising a catalyst support impregnated with cobalt and containing cobalt oxide, with a hydrogen-containing reducing gas or a nitrogen-containing gas, at a first heating rate, HR1, until the precursor has reached a temperature, T1, where 80° C.≦T1≦180° C., to obtain a partially treated catalyst precursor;
• in a second activation stage, treating the partially treated catalyst precursor with a hydrogen-containing reducing gas, at a second average heating rate, HR2, with x step increments, where x is an integer and is greater than 1, and where 0<HR2<HR1, for a time, t1, where t1 is from 0.1 to 20 hours, to obtain a partially reduced catalyst precursor;
• and thereafter
• in a third activation stage, treating the partially reduced catalyst precursor with a hydrogen-containing reducing gas, at a third heating rate, HR3, where HR3>HR2 until the partially reduced catalyst precursor reaches a temperature, T2, and maintaining the partially reduced catalyst precursor at T2 for a time, t2, where t2 is from 0 to 20 hours, to obtain an activated supported cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst.