Abstract: In the gas-phase hydrogenation of free fatty acids and mixtures thereof with fatty acid esters to fatty alcohols on particulate fixed-bed catalysts based on metal oxides in the presence of an at least 50-fold excess of recycled hydrogen at temperatures of 250.degree. to 350.degree. C. and under pressues of from 200 to 500 bars, acid-sensitive catalysts based on zinc oxide are used and the corrosive effect of the starting materials containing free fatty acids on the catalyst is at least largely prevented by increasing the process temperature within the range indicated and/or by reducing the ratio of starting material to recycled hydrogen.