Patent ID: 7297252

Claim:
A process for the activation of a supported catalyst for the selective hydrodesulfurization of a naphtha feedstock comprising: a) heating the catalyst to a temperature of about 350 to about 450° F. in the presence of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide, and in the presence of an olefinic naphtha at an effective pressure between 100 and 500 psig; b) holding the catalyst at about 350 to about 450° F. for an effectivc amount of time so that at least 20% of the metals capable of being sulfided are sulfided; and c) further heating said catalyst to a temperature from about 550 to about 700° F. in the presence of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide and in the presence of an olefinic naphtha and at an effective pressure such that substantially all of the remaining metals from step (b) that were not sulfided are sulfided.