Chromium- and nickel-free hydrogenation of hydroformylation mixtures

A process for preparing a catalyst, comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a support material containing at least 99% by weight of silicon dioxide;
• b) providing copper(II) hydroxide carbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate and/or ammonium carbonate, ammonia and water;
• c) preparing a solution from copper(II) hydroxide carbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate and/or ammonium carbonate, ammonia and water, in such a way that the copper content of the solution is between 10% by weight and 15% by weight, where the proportion of chromium in the solution is between 0 ppm by weight and 50 ppm by weight, and where the proportion of nickel in the solution is between 0 ppm by weight and 50 ppm by weight wherein the support material makes up from 86% to 90% by of the composition and the remaining components set forth above make up from 10% to 14% by weight of the composition;
• d) impregnating the support material with the solution;
• e) drying the impregnated support material at temperatures between 50° C. and 150° C.;
• f) calcining the dried, impregnated support material at temperatures between 300° C. and 600° C. to obtain a precursor;
• g) activating the precursor by reduction with hydrogen to obtain the active catalyst,
• wherein the impregnation and at least part of the drying is effected in a drum, in such a way that the support material is introduced into the drum for impregnation, that the drum is rotated, that the solution is sprayed into the drum, and that, during the drying phase, an air stream at a temperature between 50° C. and 100° C. is passed through the drum.

A process for hydrogenation of aldehydes, comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a support material containing at least 99% by weight of silicon dioxide;
• b) providing copper(II) hydroxide carbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate and/or ammonium carbonate, ammonia and water;
• c) preparing a solution from copper(II) hydroxide carbonate, ammonium hydrogencarbonate and/or ammonium carbonate, ammonia and water, in such a way that the solution has a copper content between 10% by weight and 15% by weight, where the proportion of chromium in the solution is between 0 ppm by weight and 50 ppm by weight, and where the proportion of nickel in the solution is between 0 ppm by weight and 50 ppm by weight wherein the support material makes up from 86% to 90% by of the composition and the remaining components set forth above make up from 10% to 14% by weight of the composition;
• d) impregnating the support material with the solution;
• e) drying the impregnated support material at temperatures between 50° C. and 150° C.;
• f) calcining the dried impregnated support material at temperatures between 300° C. and 600° C. to obtain a precursor,
• g) transferring the precursor to a reactor;
• h) activating the precursor in the reactor by reduction with hydrogen to obtain the active catalyst,
• i) contacting the active catalyst in the reactor with a feed mixture comprising at least one aldehyde and at least one accompanying component in the presence of hydrogen
• wherein the impregnation and at least part of the drying is effected in a drum, in such a way that the support material is introduced into the drum for impregnation, that the drum is rotated, that the solution is sprayed into the drum, and that, during the drying phase, an air stream at a temperature between 50° C. and 100° C. is passed through the drum.