Method for treating a catalyst

A process for treatment of a nickel-containing catalyst, the process comprising at least:

• a) thermally treating the nickel-containing catalyst at a temperature of 500° C. to 900° C. to remove carbon-containing deposits;
• b) impregnating the nickel-containing catalyst with an aqueous or ammoniacal solution comprising a nickel compound;
• c) hydrothermally treating the nickel-containing catalyst, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is carried out in that the nickel-containing catalyst is heated from room temperature to a temperature in a range from 75° C. to 150° C. and optionally held at the temperature until a residual moisture content of not more than 30% is obtained, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is carried out at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure;
• d) drying of the nickel-containing catalyst, wherein a drying rate in the drying in d) is higher than in the hydrothermal treatment in c) and wherein the drying is carried out to a residual moisture content of not more than 15%;
• and
• e) calcinating the catalyst.