CONTINUOUS METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SUGAR ALCOHOLS

摘要

A continuous process for preparing sugar alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation of an aqueous solution of a saccharide, which forms the corresponding sugar alcohol on hydrogenation, in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst which is obtainable by: i) single or multiple treatment of an amorphous silicon-dioxide-based support material with a halogen-free aqueous solution of a low-molecular-weight ruthenium compound and subsequent drying of the treated support material at below 200° C., ii) reducing the solid obtained in i) with hydrogen at from 100 to 350° C., step ii) being carried out immediately after step i), which comprises, before the hydrogenation, bringing the aqueous saccharide solution to be hydrogenated into contact with the support material.