Supported catalyst treatment

A process for forming an active catalyst from a used, hydrocarbon containing 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 of the used catalyst by one or more of the following steps:
• i) contacting it with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• ii) contacting it with a solvent or supercritical fluid;
• iii) contacting it with a solvent or supereritical fluid and then contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• iv) contacting it 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 it with a solvent or superecritical fluid, contacting with an oxygen-containing gas or steam at elevated temperatures and then contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• whereby a low hydrocarbon content catalyst is obtained;
• b) impregnating the low hydrocarbon content catalyst under a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one of an ammonium salt and an alkyl ammonium salt, optionally in combination with up to about five moles of ammonia per liter of solution;
• c) oxidizing the catalyst of step b with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution to form an oxidized catalyst;
• and
• d) reducing the oxidized catalyst with a hydroen-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, hydrocarbon contains catalyst by a process comprising:

• a) decreasing the hydrocarbon content of the used catalyst to form a low carbon content catalyst;
• b) impregnating the low carbon content catalyst wider a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one of an ammonium salt and an alkyl ammonium salt, optionally in combination with up to about five moles of ammonia per liter of solution;
• c) oxidizing the catalyst of step b with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution to form an oxidized catalyst;
• and
• d) reducing the oxidized catalyst 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, Rn, Rh, Re, Pd, Pt, Os and Ir, said catalyst being formed from a used, hydrocarbon containing, catalyst by a process comprising the following steps:

• a) decreasing the hydrocarbon content of the used catalyst by one or more of the following steps:
• i) contacting it with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• ii) contacting it with a solvent or supercritical fluid;
• iii) contacting it with a solvent or supercritical fluid and then contacting with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures;
• iv) contacting it 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;
• whereby a catalyst of reduced hydrocarbon content is obtained;
• b) impregnating the reduced hydrocarbon content catalyst nuder a non-oxidative atmosphere with a solution of at least one of an ammonium salt and an alkyl ammonium salt, optionally in combination with up to about five moles of ammonia per liter of solution;
• c) oxidizing the catalyst of step b with a gaseous oxidant in the presence of the impregnating solution to form an oxidized catalyst;
• and
• d) reducing the oxidized catalyst with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures thereby forming an active catalyst.