Method of preparation of supported nickel, cobalt, or copper catalysts

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A SUPPORTED CATALYST, WHICH COMPRISES IMPREGNATING A POROUS CARRIER WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A COMPLEX AMMONIUM SALT OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NICKLE, COBALT AND COPPER, REMOVING THE EXCESS SOLUTION FROM THE IMPREGNATED CARRIER, TREATING SAID IMPREGNATED CARRIER WITH A GAS COMPRISING ESSENTIALLY CARBON DIOXIDE TO PRECIPITATE A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF THE COMPLEX METAL AMMONIUM SALT IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER AS A METAL CARBONATE ON THE CARRIER, DRYING THE RESULTING PRODUCT AT A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF 65* C. TO 95 C., THEREAFTER HEATING SAID PRODUCT IN THE ABSENCE OF A REDUCING GAS AT A TEMPARATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF 250* TO 350* C., TO CONVERT THE METAL CARBONATE TO METAL OXIDE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY HEATING THE RESULTING PRODUCT IN THE PRESENCE OF A REDUCING GAS AT A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF 300* TO 500* C., TO CONVERT THE METAL OXIDE TO CATALYTICALLY ACTIVE METAL.