| abstract |
Disclosed is a catalyst for hydrogenating a carboxylic acid, comprising an activated carbon having carried thereon an active metal species comprising ruthenium and tin, wherein the activated carbon is produced by subjecting a carbonaceous material to activation treatment using zinc chloride, followed by calcination. Also disclosed is a catalyst for hydrogenating a carboxylic acid, comprising an activated carbon having carried thereon an active metal species comprising ruthenium and tin, wherein the activated carbon, prior to having carried thereon the active metal species, exhibits specific pore characteristics wherein, especially, the pore volume with respect to pores each having a radius of from 10 to 100 Å is from 0.5 to 2.0 cm3/g. Further disclosed is a method for producing a primary alcohol, which comprises reacting at least one starting material selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid and a carboxylic anhydride with hydrogen gas in the presence of water and the above-mentioned catalyst to thereby effect a catalytic hydrogenation of the starting material. |