A process of treating a catalyst composition containing palladium, an
inorganic support, and a catalyst component, such as silver and/or a
modifier such as alkali metal fluoride, is provided. The process involves
contacting a catalyst composition with a first treating agent comprising
carbon monoxide under a first treating condition to provide a treated
catalyst composition. As an option, such treated catalyst composition can
then be contacted with a second treating agent comprising a
hydrogen-containing fluid under a second treating condition. The treated
catalyst composition can be used in a selective hydrogenation process in
which highly unsaturated hydrocarbons such as diolefins and/or alkynes are
contacted with such treated catalyst composition in the presence of
hydrogen to produce less unsaturated hydrocarbons such as monoolefins.
