Fischer-tropsch catalyst activation

Abstract

A process for converting a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a hydrocarbon composition comprising one or more optionally oxygenated hydrocarbons, the process comprising the following steps: (a) providing a first catalyst material comprising cobalt (e.g., in the form of oxide) disposed on a support; (b) contacting the first catalyst material with a first reducing agent at a first temperature (T1) and a first pressure (P1) to form a reduced catalyst material; (c) contacting the reduced catalyst material with carbon monoxide at a second pressure (P2) and a second temperature (T2) to provide a passivated catalyst material, wherein P2 is at least 1 bara and at most 50 bara, and T2 is at most 300° C.; (d) contacting the passivated catalyst material with a second reducing agent at a third temperature (T3) and a third pressure (P3) to form an activated catalyst material, wherein P3 is at least 10 bara, and wherein P3 is greater than or equal to P2, and wherein T3 is less than 300° C.; and (e) contacting the activated catalyst material with a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.