| abstract |
An alcohol and/or a carboxylic acid ester is (are) produced from a C 2 to C 12 carboxylic acid by contacting the carboxylic acid at elevated temperature and pressure with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst characterized in that the catalyst comprises a first component which is either molybdenum or tungsten and a second component which is a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, optionally on a support, for example a high surface area graphitized carbon. |