Patent ID: 8062992

Claim:
A process for producing a supported cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, which process includes in a first activation stage, treating a particulate supported cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst precursor comprising a catalyst support impregnated with cobalt and containing cobalt oxide, with a hydrogen-containing reducing gas or a nitrogen-containing gas, at a first heating rate, HR1, until the precursor has reached a temperature, T 1 , where 80° C.≦T 1 ≦180° C., to obtain a partially treated catalyst precursor; in a second activation stage, treating the partially treated catalyst precursor with a hydrogen-containing reducing gas, at a second heating rate, HR2, where 0≦HR2<HR1, for a time, t 1 , where t 1 is from 0.1 to 20 hours, to obtain a partially reduced catalyst precursor; and thereafter in a third activation stage, treating the partially reduced catalyst precursor with a hydrogen-containing reducing gas, at a third heating rate, HR3, where HR3>HR2 until the partially reduced catalyst precursor reaches a temperature, T 2 wherein 300° C. ≦T 2 ≦600° C., and maintaining the partially reduced catalyst precursor at T 2 for a time, t 2 , where t 2 is from 0 to 20 hours, to obtain an activated supported cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst.