Procedure for the thermal treatment of powdered and granulated catalysts and the like

A process for the thermal treatment of powdered or granulated particles of catalytically related material, which comprises the steps of:

• A. feeding said material in a thin layer onto a reciprocating and vibrating trough conveyor;
• B. imparting a reciprocating and vibratory motion to said conveyor trough and to said powdered material on said trough;
• 1. said reciprocating motion having a vertical component and a horizontal component and,
• 2. said vertical component being smaller than said horizontal component so as to move said material along said conveyor,
• C. applying heat to the material moving in a harmonic and vibratory fashion along said conveyor trough;
• D. thereafter allowing said thermally treated particles to cool.