Preparation and use of tableted catalysts

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR PREPARING FOR USE AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE, STRONG CATALYST TABLETS FROM POWDERED CATALYTIC MATERIAL WHICH ABSORBS MOISTURE WHEN EXPOSED TO ATMOSPHERIC AIR, WHICH COMPRISES HEATING SAID MATERIAL AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 500*F. BUT BELOW THE DEACTIVATION TEMPERATURE OF SAID CATALYTIC MATERIAL SO AS TO REDUCE THE MOISTURE CONTENT TO BELOW ABOUT 0.5 WT. PERCENT, TABLETING SAID MATERIAL WHILE AT SAID MOISTURE CONTENT, CALCINING THE RESULTING TABLETS AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE, AND THEREAFTER PREVENTING SORPTION OF MOISTURE BY THE CALCINED TABLETS UNTIL SAME ARE CONTACTED WITH A PROCESS STREAM OF REACTANT GAS CATALYZED BY SAID TABLETS AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 500*F., BY MAINTAINING SAID TABLETS IN AN AMBIENT GAS OF LESS THAN 5 PERCENT RELATIVE HUMIDITY AS DETERMINED AT 80*F., THEREBY MAINTAINING THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF SAID MATERIAL BELOW 0.5 WEIGHT PERCENT AT ALL TIMES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND LAST HEATING STEPS WHEREBY THE ORIGINAL CRUSHING STRENGTH OF SAID TABLETS IS MAINTAINED.