A process for activating a cobalt-containing catalyst by contacting the catalyst
with hydrogen in a reaction system suitable for use in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis
wherein a first gaseous stream comprising 0.25 to 5% by volume of hydrogen and
95 to 99.75% by volume of inert gas is continuously introduced into the reaction
system and a second gaseous stream is continuously withdrawn from the reactor system
wherein the activation procedure comprises the steps of: (A) heating the contents
of the reactor system to a temperature which is in a range of 25 to 5 C.
below a critical activation temperature; (B) thereafter increasing the temperature
at a rate of up to 20 C. per hour to a first hold temperature which is in
a range of from the critical activation temperature to a temperature which is at
most 20 C. above the critical activation temperature; and (C) maintaining
the contents of the reactor system approaches the hydrogen content of the first
gaseous stream.
