NICKEL-CONTAINING HYDROGENATION CATALYSTS

Catalysts suitable for hydrogenating organic compounds, essentially containi ng 65 to 80 % nickel calculated as nickel oxide, 10 to 25 % silicon calculated as silicon dioxide, 2 to 10 % zirconium calculate d as zirconium oxide, 0 to 10 % aluminium calculated as aluminium oxide, with the proviso that the sum of the silicon dioxide and al uminium oxide contents is at least 15 %, with the percen tages by weight in relation to the total mass of the catalyst, obtainable by the a ddition of an acid aqueous solution of nickel, ziconium and, if desired, aluminium salts to a basic aqueous solution or suspension of silico n compounds and, if desired, aluminium compounds, the pH of the mixture thus obtained being reduced to at least 6.5 and subsequently adjusted to 7 to 8 by the addition of a further basic so lution, isolation of the solid thus precipitated, drying, shaping and calcinating, i n addition a process for producing the catalysts and the ir use in the production of medicinal white oil, highly pure medicinal paraffins and low-b oiling-point non-aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures.