Preparation and use of copper containing hydrogenation catalyst

A process for preparing a catalyst, wherein the process comprises:

• mixing a copper salt-containing solution with an alkali metal silicate salt resulting in a precipitated solid;
• mixing the mixture with an alkaline earth metal silicate salt to provide a mixture;
• and
• subjecting the mixture to a temperature in the range of from 150 to 500° C.

A process for preparing an activated catalyst, which process comprises:

• mixing a copper salt containing solution with a silicate salt containing composition resulting in a precipitated solid;
• subjecting the precipitated solid to a temperature in the range of from 150 to 500° C. resulting in a thermally treated precipitated solid;
• mixing the thermally treated precipitated solid with a shaping aid containing suspension;
• shaping the mixture thus obtained resulting in shaped bodies;
• and
• subjecting the shaped bodies to a temperature in the range of from 150 to 500° C. to provide a catalyst;
• and
• activating the catalyst by contacting it with hydrogen gas to thereby provide an exothermic reduction reaction of the catalyst to provide the activated catalyst.