METHOD FOR PREPARING A CATALYST

The present invention provides a method of preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst having high activity by liquid phase reduction without decreasing purity of the solvent and a method for efficiently producing an alcohol. The present invention provides the method of preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst, including reducing a molded precursor of the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst by supplying hydrogen gas or a mixture of hydrogen gas with an inert gas at a temperature of 50 to 150°C in the presence of a solvent to obtain the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the reduction is conducted at an average reduction velocity of the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst of not more than 3.0% by weight/hour. The present invention also provides the method of producing an alcohol, including preparing the copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst by the method of preparation, and subjecting a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid ester to catalytic reduction with hydrogen in the presence of the prepared copper-containing hydrogenation catalyst.