Abstract: A method of treating a catalyst support comprises introducing onto and/or into an untreated catalyst support which is partially soluble in an aqueous acid solution and/or a neutral aqueous solution, Si, Zr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ba, Co, Ni and/or La as a modifying component. The modifying component is capable, when present in and/or on the catalyst support, of suppressing the solubility of the catalyst support in the aqueous acid solution and/or the neutral aqueous solution. A protected modified catalyst support which is less soluble or more inert in the aqueous acid solution and/or the neutral aqueous solution, than the untreated catalyst support, is thus formed. A method of forming a catalyst from the modified catalyst support is also provided.

Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst precursor including subjecting, in an initial treatment stage, a slurry of a catalyst support, an active catalyst component precursor, and water, to treatment at elevated temperature and at sub-atmospheric pressure, to impregnate the support with the precursor and to dry the impregnated support partially. The initial treatment stage does not continue beyond a point where the impregnated carrier has a LOI which is less than 1.2 LOIiw. In a subsequent treatment stage, the partially dried impregnated support is subjected to more vigorous drying at elevated temperature and at sub-atmospheric pressure to obtain a dried impregnated carrier, which is calcined to obtain the catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced, to obtain a catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst precursor comprises subjecting, in an initial treatment stage, a slurry of a catalyst support, an active catalyst component precursor, and water, to treatment at elevated temperature and at sub-atmospheric pressure, to impregnate the support with the precursor and to dry the impregnated support partially. The initial treatment stage does not continue beyond a point where the impregnated carrier has a LOI which is less than 1,2 LOIiw. In a subsequent treatment stage, the partially dried impregnated support is subjected to more vigorous drying at elevated temperature and at sub-atmospheric pressure to obtain a dried impregnated carrier, which is calcined to obtain the catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced, to obtain a catalyst.