Regeneration of supported ruthenium catalyst

A process for regenerating a supported ruthenium catalyst which has been used to convert a carbohydrate in an aqueous medium at a pH of about 3 to about 7.5 to a polyhydric alcohol or mixture of polyhydric alcohols in the presence of hydrogen under elevated pressure at a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C., said process comprising separating said catalyst from the reaction medium and contacting said catalyst with a dilute aqueous solution of a water soluble acid, the concentration of said aqueous solution of said water soluble acid being such as to effectively regenerate said catalyst without dissolving an appreciable portion of the support.