Patent ID: 7419928

Claim:
A process for the production of an enhanced activity catalyst for hydrogenation reactions comprising: a) calcining a metal particulate substrate selected from the group consisting of cobalt metal, nickel metal, ruthenium metal and mixtures thereof in an oxidant-containing atmosphere under conditions sufficient to partially oxidize the metal of the metal particulate substrate to form a porous layer of oxides of the metal on a portion of the metal particulate substrate; b) treating said calcined metal particulate substrate having oxides thereon with a solution capable of oxidizing the metal of the calcined metal particulate substrate and comprising i) a compound of a hydrogenation catalyst metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and ruthenium and mixtures thereof, (ii) a compound of a promoter metal, or iii) a mixture of i) and ii) under conditions sufficient for the calcined metal particulate substrate to absorb a volume of said solution equal to at least about 10% of the calculated pore volume of the calcined metal particulate substrate; and c) activating said treated calcined metal particulate substrate with a hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperature thereby forming a dispersed active metal catalyst.