A fluorination catalyst such as a chromium oxide-based fluorination catalyst may be activated or reactivated by contacting the catalyst. with a source of reactive fluorine, for example nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) or fluorine (F2). Fluorinated compounds may be prepared by the gas phase reaction of hydrogen fluoride (HF) with various substrates such as chlorinated compounds. A number of metal oxide-based catalysts have been developed for this purpose.