Patent ID: 8431507

Claim:
A process for regenerating a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, of which at least 40 wt % of the catalyst particles have a size of at least 1 mm, and the fixed bed comprises cobalt and titania comprising Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles which have been deactivated by use in a Fischer-Tropsch process, said process for regenerating being performed in situ in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor tube, and comprising the steps of: (i) oxidising the catalyst particles at a temperature between 200 and 400° C. by passing an oxygen containing gas through the reactor tube, less than 0.1 vol % of said oxygen containing gas consisting of water, (ii) letting an inert gas having a temperature in the range of from 75 to 150° C. flow through the reactor tube, while cooling the reactor tube from the outside, (iii) oxidising the catalyst particles at a temperature above 600° C., and below 670° C. by letting an oxygen containing gas flow through the reactor tube while cooling the reactor tube from the outside, less than 0.1 vol % of said oxygen containing gas consisting of water, and (iv) reducing the catalyst particles with hydrogen or a hydrogen comprising gas.