Process for the hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters

In the catalytic hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters, the fatty acid methyl esters are continuously reacted with hydrogen under pressures of from 20 to 100 bar and at temperatures of from 160 DEG to 270 DEG C. with molar ratios of hydrogen to fatty acid methyl ester substrate of from 10:1 to 500:1. The reaction is carried out over catalysts which contain from 30 to 40% by weight copper, from 23 to 30% by weight chromium, from 1 to 10% by weight manganese, from 1 to 10% by weight silicon and from 1 to 7% by weight barium (% by weight, based in each case on oxidic catalyst mass) and, if desired, other transition metals in the form of their oxides. After calcination of the components, the catalyst is converted into shaped particulate and/or granulated elements with from 1 to 10% by weight, based on oxidic catalyst, of at least one binder in addition to 1 to 10% by weight graphite. The catalyst is activated with hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing gas mixture. This process enables production of fatty alcohols in high yield from pre-separated distillation cuts of fatty acid methyl esters at low pressures and very low hydrocarbon formation.