DE2506348

A hydrogenation catalyst containing cobalt, manganese and copper in the form of their oxides and alkali metal oxide and silicon dioxide. A weight ratio of cobalt to maganese is 25:1 to 1:1, and the copper content is 0.01 to 2% by weight based on a total weight of the catalyst. The catalyst is prepared by adding an excess of an aqueous solution of a hydroxide, bicarbonate or carbonate of an alkali metal to an aqueous solution of water-soluble cobalt salts, manganese-(II) salts and copper salts to form a precipitate. Thereafter an aqueous solution of an alkali metal silicate or SiO2 sol is added to the precipitate which is filtered off and washed with water to remove excess alkali metal hydroxide, bicarbonate or carbonate. The precipitate is then dried and calcined to form the catalyst.