Abstract: The regeneration of spent metal catalysts is accomplished by treatment with a sulfurous atmosphere at a pressure of at least 0.10 atmospheres and at a controlled high temperature of between 400-825.degree. C. (preferably between 400.degree.-715.degree. C., and most preferably between 400.degree.-600.degree. C.) for a time sufficient for the selective formation of sulfides of carbon and sulfides of vanadium or lead which sulfides are characterized by having high volatility and solubility in the sulfurous atmosphere and which vanadium and carbon sulfides are selectively removed from the catalyst within the stated temperature range.The coke and vanadium or lead removal methods disclosed are selective in that the coke and vanadium or lead are removed without removing the active catalytic components.

Abstract: Finely divided, stoichiometric titanium disulfide is prepared by directly reacting metallic titanium with less than stoichiometric amounts of elemental sulfur at a temperature between about 400.degree. and 1,000.degree.C. to form finely divided, nonstoichiometric, titanium-rich titanium disulfide. The titanium-rich titanium disulfide is then annealed at a temperature between about 400.degree. and about 600.degree.C. in an atmosphere having a sulfur partial pressure approximately equal to the sulfur partial pressure of stoichiometric titanium disulfide whereby the sulfur in the atmosphere reacts with the titanium-rich titanium disulfide to form a finely divided, stoichiometric titanium disulfide.