Process for the manufacture of cycloalkyldimethanol

A method for regenerating a used catalyst, comprising:

• hydrogenating at least one starting compound selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyldicarboxylic acid and an alkyl ester thereof with hydrogen in a liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst comprising ruthenium, tin and platinum and 0.1 to 80% by weight, relative to the starting compound, of an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt at a temperature of from 150-240° C., to produce cycloalkyldimethanol;
• obtaining the used catalyst from said hydrogenation and contacting said used catalyst with a base to regenerate said used catalyst.

A method for making cycloalkyldimethanol, comprising:

• hydrogenating at least one starting compound selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyldicarboxylic acid and an alkyl ester thereof with hydrogen in a liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst comprising ruthenium, tin and platinum and 0.1 to 80% by weight, relative to the starting compound, of an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt at a temperature of from 150-240° C., to produce cycloalkyldimethanol;
• obtaining the used catalyst from said hydrogenation and contacting said used catalyst with a base to regenerate said used catalyst;
• hydrogenating at least one starting compound selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyldicarboxylic acid and an alkyl ester thereof with hydrogen in a liquid phase in the presence of the regenerated used catalyst and 0.1 to 80% by weight, relative to the starting compound, of an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt at a temperature of from 150-240° C., to produce cycloalkyldimethanol.