A method for producing lower polyhydric alcohols and a new ruthenium-based catalyst used in this method

摘要

A hydrogenation catalyst having a ruthenium base on activated carbon, suitable in particular for hydrogenolysis under pressure of higher polyhydric alcohols, comprising ruthenium supported on granulated active carbon, the said catalyst having: a specific surface area of 600 to 1000 m<2>/g; a total pore volume of 0.5 to 1.2 cm<3>/g; an apparent specific weight (bulk density) of 0.45 to 0.55 g/cm<3>; an actual specific weight of 1.9 to 2.3 g/cm<3>; a total volume of micropores having a radius smaller than 75 A of 0.4 to 0.55 cm<3>/g; and an ash content of 2 to 5 weight %. The catalyst is used in a method for continuous production in a fixed bed reactor of lower polyhydric alcohols, by means of hydrogenolysis under pressure of higher polyhydric alcohols.