Abstract: Processes comprising: (i) providing a reactant selected from the group consisting of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and mixtures thereof, and (ii) reacting the reactant with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a zirconium dioxide- and nickel-containing catalytically active composition, to form an amine; wherein the catalytically active composition, prior to reduction with hydrogen, comprises oxygen compounds of zirconium, copper, and nickel, and one or more oxygen compounds of silver in an amount of 0.5 to 6% by weight, calculated as AgO.

Abstract: Processes comprising: (i) providing a reactant selected from the group consisting of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and mixtures thereof; and (ii) reacting the reactant with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a zirconium dioxide- and nickel-containing catalytically active composition, to form an amine; wherein the catalytically active composition, prior to reduction with hydrogen, comprises oxygen compounds of zirconium, copper, nickel and cobalt, and one or more oxygen compounds of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Pb, Bi, Sn, Sb and In.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a tertiary amine from its corresponding primary or secondary amine and alcohol as the raw materials by using a film type catalyst. Disclosed is a process for producing a tertiary amine from an alcohol and a primary or secondary amine, which including conducting the reaction, while circulating a reaction solution at least 3 times/hour in a reactor loaded with a film type catalyst in an external circulating line ancillary to a tank.

Abstract: Processes comprising: (i) providing a reactant selected from the group consisting of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and mixtures thereof, and (ii) reacting the reactant with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a zirconium dioxide- and nickel-containing catalytically active composition, to form an amine; wherein the catalytically active composition, prior to reduction with hydrogen, comprises oxygen compounds of zirconium, copper, nickel and cobalt, and one or more oxygen compounds of molybdenum in an amount of 5.5 to 12% by weight, calculated as MoO3.

Abstract: Preparation of ethyleneamines by reacting monoethanolamine (MEOA) with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor (1) and separating the resulting reaction product, where ethylenediamine (EDA) obtained in the separation is reacted in a separate reactor (2) in the presence of a catalyst to give diethylenetriamine (DETA), and the resulting reaction product is passed to the separation of the reaction product resulting from reactor 1.

Abstract: A process for preparing ethylene amines and ethanolamines by hydrogenative amination of monoethylene glycol and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the process is carried out in two process stages in which in the first process stage, the amination is carried out over a hydroamination catalyst to a monoethylene glycol conversion of not more than 40% and in the second process stage, a supported catalyst having an active composition comprising ruthenium and cobalt and no further additional metal of group VIII and also no metal of group IB is used in the form of shaped catalyst bodies which in the case of a spherical shape or rod shape in each case have a diameter of <3 mm, in the case of a pellet shape have a height of <3 mm and in the case of all other geometries in each case have an equivalent diameter L=1/a? of <0.70 mm, is proposed.

Abstract: Processes comprising: (a) providing a first reactant comprising a bioethanol; and (b) reacting the first reactant with a second reactant comprising a component selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of hydrogen and a catalytically effective amount of a heterogeneous hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst to form an ethylamine; wherein the catalyst has been activated at a temperature of 100 to 500° C. for at least 25 minutes; wherein prior to activation the catalyst comprises: (i) 20 to 65% by weight of a support material comprising one or both of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), (ii) 1 to 30% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of copper, calculated as CuO, and (iii) 21 to 70% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of nickel, calculated as NiO; and wherein after activation the catalyst has a CO uptake capacity of >110 ?mol of CO/g of the catalyst.

Abstract: Process for producing a shaped body comprising a microporous material and at least one silicon-containing binder, which comprises the steps (I) preparing a mixture comprising the microporous material, the binder, a make-up aid and a solvent, (II) mixing and densifying the mixture, (III) shaping the densified mixture to give a shaped body, (IV) drying the shaped body and (V) calcining the dried shaped body, wherein the binder used is an organosilicon compound, shaped bodies which can be produced by this process, their use as catalyst, in particular in organic synthesis and very particularly preferably in a process for preparing triethylenediamine (TEDA).

Abstract: Process for preparing an ethylamine by reacting ethanol with ammonia, a primary amine or a secondary amine in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst, in which a biochemically prepared ethanol (bioethanol) in which the concentration of sulfur and/or sulfur-containing compounds has been reduced beforehand by bringing it into contact with an adsorbent is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of severely sterically hindered amino-ether alcohols using a catalyst based on the combination of one or more catalytically active metals supported in a dispersed form on one or more ordered mesoporous materials as support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing methylamines by gas-phase reaction of methanol and ammonia as starting materials at a pressure in the range from 15 to 30 bar in the presence of heterogeneous catalyst. The starting materials are vaporized in one or more heat exchangers (1, 2, 3), superheated to produce a feed gas stream and subsequently fed into a reactor (4), with the mixing of the starting materials being able to be carried out in the feed stream to one of the heat exchangers (1, 2, 3) or at any desired position in a heat exchanger (1, 2, 3). A product gas stream comprising monomethylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine and also reaction by-products is taken off from the reactor (4). To control the reactor inlet temperature of the starting materials to a temperature in the range from 360° C. to 370° C., all or some of the feed gas stream or the product gas stream is passed through an adjustable valve (5) in order to vary the pressure and thus the condensation temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an aliphatic amine, including the step of contacting a linear or branched, or cyclic aliphatic alcohol with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst containing (A) nickel, copper and zirconium components, and (B) at least one metal component selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Group 3 of the Periodic Table, elements belonging to Group 5 of the Periodic Table and platinum group elements. According to the process of the present invention, an aliphatic primary amine can be produced from an aliphatic alcohol with a high selectivity.

Abstract: A process for preparing ethylene amines and ethanolamines by hydrogenative amination of monoethylene glycol and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a catalyst having an active composition comprising ruthenium and cobalt and no further additional metal of group VIII and also no metal of group IB is used in the form of shaped catalyst bodies which in the case of a spherical shape or rod shape in each case have a diameter of <3 mm, in the case of a pellet shape have a height of <3 mm and in the case of all other geometries in each case have an equivalent diameter L=1/a? of <0.70 mm, where a? is the external surface area per unit volume (mms2/mmp3) and: a ? = Ap Vp where Ap is the external surface area of the shaped catalyst body (mms2) and Vp is the volume of the shaped catalyst body (mmp3), is proposed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new crystalline molecular sieve SSZ-75 having STI topology prepared using a tetramethylene-1,4-bis-(N-methylpyrrolidinium) dication as a structure-directing agent, and its use in catalysts for making amines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing severely sterically hindered secondary amine ether alcohols and diamine polyalkenyl ethers by reacting a primary amino compound with a polyalkenylether glycol in the presence of a high activity nickel powder hydrogenation catalyst which is marked by high conversion of reactants and increased selectivity to desired final product.

Abstract: Process for the continuous synthesis of methylamines by reaction of methanol and/or dimethyl ether with ammonia in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the catalyst used is a shaped body which comprises a microporous material and at least one organosilicon compound as binder and can be produced by a process comprising the steps (I) preparation of a mixture comprising the microporous material, the binder, a pasting agent and a solvent, (II) mixing and densification of the mixture, (III) shaping of the densified mixture to give a shaped body, (IV) drying of the shaped body and (V) calcination of the dried shaped body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a tertiary amine, which includes reacting an alcohol with a primary or secondary amine gas in the presence of a catalyst with an agitating vessel under the stirring conditions where the ratio (Pg/P0) of agitating power at the time of the maximum flow rate of an introducing gas (Pg [W]) to agitating power at the time of no introduction of the gas (P0 [W]) becomes 10?1.8Na or more wherein Na is the gas flow number, and Na=Qg/nd3 whereupon Qg [m3/s] is the flow rate of an introducing gas, n [1/s] is the number of revolutions, and d [m] is the diameter of an agitating impeller.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a tertiary amine, including reacting a tertiary amine with an alcohol and a primary or secondary amine in a reactor loaded with a film type catalyst, controlling the superficial velocity of liquid in the reactor at 0.1 cm/s or more.

Abstract: Disclosed are catalysts, the catalytically active mass of which contains 22 to 40 percent by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of zirconium, calculated as ZrO2, 1 to 30 percent by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of copper, calculated as CuO, 15 to 50 percent by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of nickel, calculated as NiO, the molar ratio between nickel and copper being greater than 1, 15 to 50 percent by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of cobalt, calculated as CoO, and less than 1 percent by weight of an alkali metal, calculated as alkali metal oxide, prior to being treated with hydrogen. Also disclosed is a method for the production of amines by reacting primary and secondary alcohols, aldehydes, or ketones with hydrogen and nitrogen compounds selected from the group ammonia, primary and secondary amines, in the presence of said catalysts at an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing polyoxyalkylene triamine by bringing polyoxyalkylene triol having at its terminal a hydroxyl group into contact with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising ruthenium metal at an amount of 0.5 to 20% by weight of the total of the catalyst, the ruthenium metal being carried on at least one carrier selected from alumina, silica, silica-alumina, titanium dioxide, and titanium dioxide-silica.

Abstract: Process for the catalytic hydrogenation of an aliphatically unsaturated group in an organic compound in the presence of a catalyst whose preparation has involved precipitation of catalytically active components onto monoclinic, tetragonal or cubic zirconium dioxide.

Abstract: Process for preparing an amine by reacting a primary or secondary alcohol, aldehyde or ketone with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia and primary and secondary amines in the presence of a catalyst whose preparation has involved precipitation of catalytically active components onto monoclinic, tetragonal or cubic zirconium dioxide.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved catalytic compositions suited for use in hydrogenation processes and to an improved process for hydrogenating organic compounds as in amination of alcohols or hydrogenation of nitrile and nitro groups to the amine using the catalyst. The catalytic composition is more particularly an improvement in nickel catalysts promoted with palladium carried on a support. The improvement resides in including a promoting effect of a metal M and/or its oxide, selected from Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ag, typically from about 0.01 to 10% by weight of the support.

Abstract: Improved amine-terminated polybutadienes (ATPBs) having one or two terminal groups of the formula —CHRNH2 wherein R is C1-C20 alkyl, are prepared by aminating a secondary hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene having no ether groups. The ATPBs may be hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, either prior to or after the animation, to saturate or partially saturate the polymers. Preferred ATPBs are of the formula H2NCHR-(polybutadiene)-CHRNH2 wherein R is C1-C20 alkyl. Polyureas, polyurethanes, crosslinked epoxies, polyamides, and other derivatives with improved properties can be prepared from the ATPBs. The resultant derivatives are useful in liquid binders for braking systems, electric potting compositions, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and water proofing membranes, for example.

Abstract: Novel nickel and/or cobalt plated sponge based catalysts are disclosed. The catalyst have an activity and/or selectivity comparable to conventional nickel and/or cobalt sponge catalysts, e.g., Raney® nickel or Raney® cobalt catalysts, but require a reduced content of nickel and/or cobalt. Catalysts in accordance with the invention comprise nickel and/or cobalt coated on at least a portion of the surface of a sponge support. Preferably, the sponge support comprises at least one metal other than or different from the metal(s) contained in the coating. The method of preparing the plated catalysts, and the method of using the catalysts in the preparation of organic compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved catalytic compositions suited for use in hydrogenation processes and to an improved process for hydrogenating organic compounds as in amination of alcohols or hydrogenation of nitrile and nitro groups to the amine using the catalyst. The catalytic composition is more particularly an improvement in nickel catalysts promoted with palladium carried on a support. The improvement resides in including a promoting effect of a metal M and/or its oxide, selected from Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ag, typically from about 0.01 to 10% by weight of the support.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved catalytic compositions suited for use in hydrogenation processes and to an improved process for hydrogenating organic compounds as in amination of alcohols or hydrogenation of nitro groups to the amine using the catalyst. The catalytic composition is more particularly an improvement in nickel catalysts promoted with palladium carried on a support. The improvement resides in including a promoting effect of a metal M and/or its oxide, selected from Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ag, typically from about 0.01 to 10% by weight of the support.

Abstract: The preparation of amines of the formula (I): R1R2CH—N R3R4  (I) in which R1, R2, R3 and R4, independently of one another, are hydrogen, straight-chain or branched C1-C12-alkyl, C3-C12-cycloalkyl, C6-C10-aryl or C7-C11-aralkyl, takes place by catalytic, reductive amination of mixtures comprising carbonyl compounds of the formula (II) and/or alcohols of the formula (III) R1—C(═O)—R2  (II) R1—CH(OH)—R2  (III) which also comprise at least 50 ppm, based on the mixtures, of halogen, with nitrogen compounds of the formula (IV): H N R3 R4  (IV) with the abovementioned meanings for R1 to R4, in the presence of Co- and/or Ni-containing catalysts, which comprises carrying out the reductive amination additionally in the presence of solid acidic cocatalysts.

Abstract: Catalysts useful for producing methylamines and having practical catalyst life and large selectivity for dimethylamine comprise crystalline silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves which have a molar ratio of silicon atom to aluminum atom in the range of 0.01-0.30.

Abstract: Amines are prepared by reacting aldehydes or ketones at elevated temperature under elevated pressure with nitrogen compounds selected from the group of ammonia, primary and secondary amines, and with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalytically active mass of the catalyst contains, after its preparation and before the treatment with hydrogen, 22 to 45% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of zirconium, calculated as ZrO2, 1 to 30% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of copper, calculated as CuO, 5 to 50% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of nickel, calculated as NiO, where the molar ratio of nickel to copper is greater than 1, 5 to 50% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of cobalt, calculated as CoO, 0 to 5% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of molybdenum, calculated as MoO3, and 0 to 10% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of aluminum and/or manganese, calculated as Al2O3 or MnO2.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of alkoxylated tertiary and quaternary amine surfactants by reductive amination of alkoxylated alcohols with anhydrous ammonia or primary or secondary amines or polyamines, optionally followed by quaternization of the alkoxylated tertiary amines with a quaternizing agent such as an aliphatic halide.

Abstract: A single-stage process is described for the preparation of primary aliphatic polyamines of the formula in which R1 and R2 independently of one another are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or aminomethyl, by reaction of polyalcohols on a Co/Ni catalyst with supercritical ammonia in the presence of hydrogen.

Abstract: Aqueous, alcoholic or aqueous-alcoholic solutions of a monoalkylamine and a reducing sugar are simultaneously injected into a mixing unit and the two solutions are mixed under turbulence in the mixing unit for 6 seconds to 5 minutes at a temperature of 25 to 60° C. and a pressure of 50 to 90 bar. The mixture is then added to a hydrogenation reactor and hydrogenated with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. An alkylpolyhydroxyalkylamine is obtained in high yield and with high purity.

Abstract: Catalysts for producing methylamines are provided, which comprise mordenite, as the essential component, of spherical fine particles having a crystal diameter of not more than 0.5 &mgr;m. When the catalysts are used for the production of dimethylamine from methanol and ammonia or through a disproportionation of methylamines, they exhibit a high dimethylamine productivity with the formation of few amount of trimethylamine whose demand is very small. The process can be operated for a long period of time without decrease in the catalyst activity.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for synthesizing alkanolamines and/or alkyleneamines by reacting either an alkane, an alkene, or both with a source of oxygen and a source of nitrogen and, optionally, additional hydrogen to convert the alkane and/or alkene by selective partial oxidative amination to at least one of the desired end products. The invention further provides a regenerable catalyst for use in synthesizing alkanolamines and/or alkyleneamines by selective partial oxidative amination of alkanes and/or alkenes.

Abstract: Monoisopropylamine is prepared by reacting acetone with ammonia and with hydrogen at elevated temperature and elevated pressure in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalytically active mass of the catalyst comprises, after its preparation and before the treatment with hydrogen,

Abstract: A method for making monomethylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine, in which methanol and/or dimethylether and ammonia are contacted in the presence of an acidic zeolite chabazite catalyst is disclosed. The method suppresses the production of trimethylamine and optimizes dimethylamine and monomethylamine yields.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for selectively producing diaminoalkanes which comprises reacting a dihydric alcohol characterized by two to six carbons, preferably 1,3-propanediol, with excess ammonia and sufficient hydrogen to stabilize a nickel or cobalt-containing hydroamination catalyst, at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 500 psig, until there is substantial formation of the desired diaminoalkane, wherein said catalyst comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt, or mixtures thereof, optionally in the presence of one or more promoters, but particularly molybdenum oxide.

Abstract: Methylamines are prepared from methanol and ammonia in the presence of modified molecular sieve catalysts obtained by mixing crystalline molecular sieves such as SAPO with modifiers such as titanium oxide. The catalysts are also suitably used for a disproportionation reaction of monomethylamine.

Abstract: Amines are prepared from primary or secondary alcohols and nitrogen compounds selected from the group of ammonia, primary and secondary amines, at from 80 to 250.degree. C. under pressures from 0.1 to 40 MPa with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising zirconium, copper and nickel, wherein the catalytically active composition comprises20-85% by weight of oxygen-containing zirconium compounds, calculated as ZrO.sub.2,1-30% by weight of oxygen-containing copper compounds, calculated as CuO,14-70% by weight of oxygen-containing nickel compounds, calculated as NiO, where the molar ratio of nickel to copper is greater than 1,0-10% by weight of oxygen-containing aluminum and/or manganese compounds, calculated as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or MnO.sub.2,and no oxygen-containing cobalt or molybdenum compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amination process for the manufacture of polyamines. The purpose of the process is to increase the selectivity of linear aminated products and to prevent the formation of discoloring by-products or by-products which may later cause discoloration. According to the process this is achieved by performing, in a first part of the process, the amination to a conversion degree of between 50 and 98% by weight, calculated on the total yield of polyamines, at a proportionally time-weighted average temperature, which is at least 15.degree. C. higher than the proportionally time-weighted average temperature in the remaining part.

Abstract: This invention includes catalysts comprising rhenium (atomic number 75), nickel, cobalt, boron and copper and/or ruthenium impregnated on a support material and a process for preparing said catalyst, said process comprising (i) impregnating a mixture of metals comprising rhenium, cobalt, copper and/or ruthenium, boron and nickel on a support material selected from the group consisting of alpha-alumina, silica, silica-alumina, kiesolguhrs or diatomaceous earths, and silica-titanias; and (ii) activating said catalyst by heating the catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at an effective temperature preferably in the range of about 150.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. for a sufficient period preferably of from about 30 minutes to about 6 hours.

Abstract: A process for the production of aliphatic amines by reacting aliphatic alcohols with an amino compound in the presence of a catalyst containing at least two inter-dispersed metals, in a multi-metallic structure, in which at least one of the metals is nickel or cobalt, and at least one other metal is palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, or copper.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of dialkylamines of the general formula I, ##STR1## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 denote C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl, by the reaction of a dialkylamine of the general formula II ##STR2## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 denote C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl, with alcohols R.sup.3 --OH in the presence of a (copper chromite/alkaline-earth metal chromite)-containing hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst, in which the reaction is carried out in the liquid phase over a fixed bed catalyst in the presence of the water formed during the reaction at temperatures ranging from 180.degree. to 210.degree. C. and pressures ranging from 40 to 120 bar.

Abstract: A process for the production of predominantly primary and secondary amines and little or no tertiary amines by the reductive amination of aliphatic alcohols using a metal exchanged crystalline aluminosilicate catalyst. The catalyst has a silica/alumina ratio ranging from about 10:1 to 40:1, contains about 1 to 10% by weight of cobalt or nickel and about 0.05 to 5% by weight of at least one other metal. High conversion rates are achieved at moderate temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: The process for preparing anhydrous 2-amino-1-methoxypropane proceeds by(a) admixing a 2-amino-1-methoxypropane-containing water-containing reaction mixture, obtainable from the reaction of 1-methoxy-2-propanol with ammonia on a catalyst, with sodium hydroxide solution, forming an aqueous phase containing sodium hydroxide solution and a 2-amino-1-methoxypropane-containing phase,(b) separating off the 2-amino-1-methoxypropane-containing phase from the aqueous phase and(c) distilling the 2-amino-1-methoxypropane-containing phase, an azeotrope of water and 2-amino-1-methoxypropane, which is recycled to step (a) or (b), first being produced and anhydrous 2-amino-1-methoxypropane then being produced.

Abstract: Diaminodipropyl ethers and hydroxyaminodipropyl ethers are prepared by catalytic amination of dipropylene glycol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved reductive amination processes whereby monoethanolamine and ammonia are reacted in the presence of hydrogen and various reductive amination catalysts to yield high selectivity to acyclic products such as aminoethylethanolamine, while reducing the production of cyclic products such as piperazine. When the process of the present invention is carried out in the presence of reductive amination catalyst containing metals such as nickel or nickel-rhenium on transitional alumina carriers, productivity and selectivity to the desired products is increased. Alternatively, the process may be carried out in the presence of hydrotalcite-like or takovite-like catalysts which have been enhanced by the use of promoters to achieve the desired results.

Abstract: A process is provided which comprises using a catalyst comprises a rare earth element supported on an inorganic heat-resisting carrier, when a monoethanolamine is selectively prepared by reacting an alkylene oxide with ammonia in a liquid phase. This catalyst has excellent monoalkanolamine selectivity and heat resistance; and therefore, even when the ratio of ammonia to the alkylene oxide is lower compared with cases where other catalysts are used, an equal or more amount of the monoalkanolamine can be formed, and thus the recovery cost of the unreacted ammonia is reduced. Further, since the total amount of the feed raw materials is reduced, apparatuses for the reaction system and recovery system can be made smaller, and thus the cost of equipment is reduced.

Abstract: This invention includes catalysts comprising rhenium (atomic number 75), nickel, cobalt, boron and copper and/or ruthenium impregnated on a support material and a process for preparing said catalyst, said process comprising (i) impregnating a mixture of metals comprising rhenium, cobalt, copper and/or ruthenium, boron and nickel on a support material selected from the group consisting of alpha-alumina, silica, silica-alumina, kieselguhrs or diatomaceous earths, and silica-titanias; and (ii) activating said catalyst by heating the catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at an effective temperature preferably in the range of about 150.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C. for a sufficient period preferably of from about 30 minutes to about 6 hours.