Process for preparing a sulphided catalyst

1. The process for preparing a sulphided catalyst comprising the steps of

(a) treating a catalyst carrier with one or more Group VIB metal components, one or more Group VIII metal components and a glycolic acid ethoxylate ether compound according to the formula (I)

R—(CH 2 ) x —CH 2 —O—[—(CH 2 ) 2 —O—] m —CH 2 —COOH  (I)

wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group containing from 5 to 20 carbon atoms, x is in the range of from 1 to 15, and m is in the range of from 1 to 10, and wherein the molar ratio of compound (I) to the Group VIB and Group VIII metal content is at least 0.01:1 to 1:0.01;

(b) drying the treated catalyst carrier at a temperature of at most 200° C. to form a dried impregnated carrier; and

(c) sulphiding the dried impregnated carrier to obtain a sulphided catalyst.

2. The process according to claim 1 , in which the compound according to formula (I) has a molecular weight of from 250 to 1500.

3. The process according to claim 1 , in R is a hydrocarbyl group containing of from 6 to 15 carbon atoms, x is in the range of from 1 to 10 and m is of from 1 to 5.

4. The process according to claim 1 , in which the carrier is alumina.

5. The process according to claim 4 , in which the carrier is gamma alumina.

6. The process according to claim 1 , in which the compound according to formula (I) is chosen from the group consisting of glycolic acid ethoxylate oleyl ether, glycolic acid ethoxylate nonylphenyl ether and glycolic acid ethoxylate lauryl ether.

7. The process for hydrotreating a sulphur-containing hydrocarbon feedstock which process comprises contacting the hydrocarbon feedstock at a hydrogen partial pressure from 1 to 70 bar and a temperature of from 200 to 420° C. with a catalyst prepared according to claim 1 .