PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND/OR GLYCOLIC ACID ESTER, CATALYST COMPOSITION USED THEREFOR, AND PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THIS COMPOSITION

摘要

A hydrogenation catalyst composition useful for the hydrogenation of an oxalate diester, said composition being composed of a reduction product of copper-containing silica gel formed by contacting an amine complex of copper with colloidal silica sol; and a process for producing the aforesaid composition. Using a catalyst composed of the aforesaid composition, ethylene glycol and/or a glycolic acid ester can be produced from an oxalate diester efficiently with high conversions and selectivities and without causing pollution attributed to the use of a chromium-containing catalyst composition.