SC.sub.2 activation of supported chromium oxide catalysts

Abstract

A method for producing activated catalysts in which a catalyst containing chromium on a silica-containing support is (1) contacted with a gaseous environment consisting essentially of sulfur dioxide and oxygen at a temperature in a range of about 450.degree. C. to about 1100.degree. C. for a time ranging from about one to about five hours and (2) subsequently maintaining a temperature within the contact temperature range while contacting the catalyst with a gaseous environment consisting essentially of oxygen and gases inert to reaction with the catalyst. In another embodiment of the invention the temperature for a succeeding step is not raised above that attained in the previous step. In an embodiment of the invention the catalyst is contacted with a gaseous environment consisting essentially of oxygen and gases inert to reaction with the catalyst while the temperature is being increased prior to contact with sulfur dioxide.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.