The invention discloses a method for activating a
benzene-method
maleic anhydride catalyst outside a reactor. The method comprises the following steps: 1, placing the
benzene-method
maleic anhydride catalyst in the activation reactor; 2, introducing air into the activation reactor, so that the interior of the activation reactor is filled with air; 3, raising the temperature of the
benzene-method
maleic anhydride catalyst, wherein the temperature-raising gradient is 60-100 DEG C / h, after the temperature is raised to 300 DEG C, changing the temperature-raising gradient to 0-80 DEG C / h, and raising the temperature to 440-460 DEG C; 4, after the temperature is preserved for 3-5 hours, lowering the temperature to 420-440 DEG C, introducing
ammonia gas, when the volume ratio of
ammonia gas to air in the activation reactor reaches 1 / 25 to 1 / 15, stopping gas introduction, and continuing preserving the temperature for 2-4 hours, then lowering the temperature to the
room temperature, wherein the temperature lowering time is one hour, so that the benzene-method maleic anhydride catalyst activated outside the reactor is obtained. According to the method, air and a gas mixture of
ammonia gas and air are adopted as activation
atmosphere in sequence, activation cost is lowered, stability of catalyst activity is guaranteed, and stability of the benzene conversion rate is greatly improved.