Patent ID: 8183173

Claim:
A method of preparing a catalyst comprising: aging a silica support in an alkaline solution to produce an alkaline aged silica support; removing at least a portion of the alkaline solution from the alkaline aged silica support to produce a dried silica support; and activating the silica support to produce a catalyst composition, wherein alkaline aging lowers the surface area of the silica support to less than about 50% of the original value, wherein the silica support has a surface area of less than about 300 m 2 /g, wherein activation of the silica support is carried out in batches of equal to or greater than about 500 lbs for a time period of less than about 8 hours, and wherein a chromium conversion to chromium (VI) is from about 0.35 wt. % to about 0.65 wt. % based on the total weight of the catalyst when the chromium level is from about 0.2 wt. % to about 2 wt. %.