Reactivation of catalysts

Claim 1

IN THE CATALYTIC HYDROGENATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE WHEREIN THE CATALYSIS IS EFFECTED BY BRINGING A MIXTURE O HYDROGEN AND CARBON MONOXIDE IN CONTACT WITH A FINELYDIVIDED SOLID CATALYST SUSPENDED IN A LIQUID REACTION MEDIUM IN A REACTION ZONE, THE REACTION TAKING PLACE IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID SUSPENDED CATALYST AND WHEREIN THE ACTIVITY OF SAID CATALYST IN SUSPENSION DECLINES SLOWLY AND THEN REACHES A POINT OF INCIPIENT CATALYST ACTIVITY DECREASE DEFINED BY A SUDDEN FALL OF CATALYST ACTIVITY, THE IMPROVEMENT MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO EMPLOY THE CATALYST AFTER ACTIVITY DECLINES, WHICH COMPRISES REMOVING A PART OF SAID CATALYST SUSPENSION FROM THE REACTION ZONE, DIVIDING THE CATALYST OF THE REMOVED SUSPENSION INTO A PORTION RICH IN CARBON AND A PORTION POOR IN CARBON, SUSPENDING THE LATTER PORTION IN AN INERT LIQUID TO THEREBY FORM A REACTIVATED CATALYST SUSPENSION, AND THEREAFTER PASSING THIS REACTIVATED SUSPENSION TO THE AFOREAID REACTION ZONE.