Method of reactivating reduced metal oxide catalysts

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR REACTIVATING A CATALYST CONTAINING AS ITS ESSENTIAL ACTIVE INGREDIENT A REDUCED OXIDE OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF COBALT AND NICKEL, SAID CATALYST CARRYING A NITROGEN-CONTAINING TARRY MATERIAL DEPOSITED THEREON DURING THE REACTION OF AMMONIA WITH OLEFINS IN AN OPERATION WHEREIN A MIXTURE OF AMMONIA AND OLEFIN IS BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH SAID REDUCED METAL OXIDE CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF 450*-750*F. AND AT A PRESSURE WITHIN THE RANGE 500-3000 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES PASSING HYDROGEN AT A TEMPERATURE APPROXIMATING 450*-750*F. AND AT A PRESSURE APPROXIMATING 1000-3000 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH IN CONTACT WITH SAID CATALYST, WHEREBY THE TARRY MATERIAL IS CONVERTED TO VOLATILIZED HYDROCARBON AND AMMONIA AND THE CATALYST IS REACTIVATED.