Palladium-copper chromite hydrogenation catalysts

A catalyst, comprising:

• copper chromite having a gram-atom ratio of copper to chromium of about 1:2 to about 2:1, about 0.5 to about 1.5 weight percent palladium, and about 4000 to about 6000 ppm lanthanum, wherein said palladium and said lanthanum are deposited on said copper chromite.

A catalyst, consisting essentially of:

• copper chromite having a gram-atom ratio of copper to chromium of about 1:2 to about 2, about 0.5 to about 1.5 weight percent palladium, and about 4000 to about 6000 ppm lanthanum, wherein said palladium and said lanthanum are deposited on said copper chromite.

A process for the preparation of a catalyst, comprising:

• contacting copper chromite with a solution of a palladium compound and a solution of a lanthanum compound;
• drying said copper chromite, and calcining said dried copper chromite.

A process for the preparation of methanol, comprising:

• contacting a gaseous feed comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and optionally carbon dioxide, with a catalyst, comprising:
• copper chromite, palladium, and lanthanum, wherein said palladium and lanthanum are deposited on said copper chromite.

A process for hydrogenating an carbonyl compound to an alcohol, comprising contacting at least one carbonyl compound with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, comprising:

• copper chromite, palladium, and lanthanum are, wherein said palladium and lanthanum deposited on said copper chromite.

A process for the preparation of a cyclohexanedimethanol comprising contacting at least one dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylate with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, comprising:

• copper chromite, palladium, and lanthanum are, wherein said palladium and lanthanum deposited on said copper chromite.