Supported catalyst regeneration

A process for the treatment of a used, supported catalyst comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Re, Pd, Pt, Os and Ir, the process comprising the following steps:

• a) decreasing the hydrocarbon content by one of the following steps:
• i) contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• ii) contacting with a solvent or supercritical fluid;
• iii) contacting with a solvent or supercritical fluid and then contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• iv) contacting the catalyst with an oxygen-containing gas or steam at elevated temperatures and then contacting it with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• and
• v) contacting with a solvent or supercritical fluid, contacting with an oxygen-containing gas or steam at elevated temperatures and then contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• b) impregnating under a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one weak organic acid or carbonic acid;
• c) oxidizing with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution;
• and
• d) reducing with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures thereby forming an active catalyst.

A supported metal catalyst for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Re, Pd, Pt, Os and Ir, said catalyst being formed from a used catalyst by a process comprising:

• a) decreasing the hydrocarbon content;
• b) impregnating under a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one weak organic acid;
• c) oxidizing with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution;
• and
• d) reducing with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures thereby forming an active catalyst.

A supported metal catalyst for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Re, Pd, Pt, Os and Ir, said catalyst being formed from a used catalyst by a process comprising the following steps:

• a) decreasing the hydrocarbon content by one of the following steps:
• i) contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• ii) contacting with a solvent or supercritical fluid;
• iii) contacting with a solvent or supercritical fluid and then contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• iv) contacting the catalyst with an oxygen-containing gas or steam at elevated temperatures and then contacting it with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• and
• v) contacting with a solvent or supercritical fluid, contacting with an oxygen-containing gas or steam at elevated temperatures and then contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• b) impregnating under a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one weak organic acid;
• c) oxidizing with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution;
• and
• d) reducing with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures thereby forming an active catalyst.