PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF CATALYST

of the Discloslure Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a catalyst for the synthesis of methyl formate by dehydrogenating methanol in the gaseous phase, said process being characterized in that (A) at least one phosphate selected from the group consisting of copper phosphates, zinc phosphates and aluminum phosphates, and (B) at least one chloride selected from the group consisting of copper chlorides, zinc chloride, aluminum chloride, alkali metal chlorides and alkaline earth metal chlorides and/or (C) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal compounds (exclusive of halides) and alkaline earth metal compounds (exclusive of halides) are added to copper oxide, zinc oxide and aluminum oxide. The catalyst obtained according to this process has a high activity for preparing methyl formate by dehydrogenating methanol in the gaseous phase, and this catalyst is excellent in the heat resistance and durability and has a high mechanical strength.