Abstract: The present invention provides a method of obtaining highly pure phytosterols practically and efficiently from crude phytosterol compositions derived from vegetable fats and oils. That is, the present invention provides a method of saponifying fatty esters contained in crude phytosterol compositions with an alkali in a mixed solvent of an lower alcohol and water, as well as a process for producing phytosterols, which comprises, after this saponifying method, cooling the reaction solution to precipitate crystals of phytosterols, and separating the obtained crystals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a highly pure phytosterol, at high yield in particular, by an easy treatment from a crude fatty acid ester derived from a vegetable fat and/or oil. That is, the present invention provides a process for producing phytosterol, which comprises (A) bringing a crude fatty acid product derived from a vegetable fat and/or oil including phytosterol into contact with a mixed solvent of an organic solvent and water to crystallize the phytosterol and separating the crystals from the mixed solvent; or (B) mixing a crude fatty acid ester derived from a vegetable fat and/or oil including the phytosterol and a fatty acid ester with a lower alcohol, allowing the mixture to stand at a temperature of 1 to 40° C. to precipitate crystals including the fatty acid ester and separating the crystals to take the lower alcohol solution including the phytosterol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogenation catalyst precursor which does not bring about a problem of environmental pollution involved in copper-chromium catalysts and has a high activity, a high durability and a high selectivity as compared with those of conventional copper-iron-aluminum catalysts, a hydrogenation catalyst obtained by reducing the same, and a production process for alcohols using the above hydrogenation catalyst. The hydrogenation catalyst precursor described above comprises copper, iron and aluminum and containing as a principal component a compound oxide of copper, iron and aluminum in which an atomic ratio Cu:Fe:Al is 1:(0.02 to 0.4):(1.0 to 4.0) and which has a copper-aluminum spinel structure.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrogenation use in which the carrier of the catalyst comprises at least one compound from oxides and hydroxides of aluminum, silicon, titanium, zirconium, magnesium and iron, zeolites or silica-alumina, and the catalyst has an atomic ratio (the atomic ratio of the entire catalyst including the carrier, in the case of the use of an aluminum atom-containing substance as the carrier) of Cu/Fe/Al/(an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal)/Zn=1/0.4 to 2.5/0.5 to 5.0/0.001 to 0.4/0 to 1.0. According to the present invention, a copper-iron-aluminum catalyst having markedly high activity and selectivity can be obtained, and, when the catalyst is used, higher alcohols having high purity can be obtained easily.

Abstract: The hydrogenation catalyst comprises copper, iron, aluminum and optionally zine and a support selected from aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxide and a mixture of aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide, having an atomic ratio of Cu/Fe/Al/Zn in the range of 1/(0.4 to 2.5)/(0.5 to 5.0)/(0 to 1.0). It is produced by dispersing a material for the support in an aqueous medium, depositing cupper and iron on the dispersant, further depositing thereon aluminum and sintering it. It is a catalyst for production of a higher alcohol from its methyl ester, effecting hydrogenation with an improved selectivity and activity.

Abstract: A Guerbert alcohol is effectively and selectively obtained by heating a primary alcohol in the presence of an alkaline substance and a copper-nickel catalyst in which a weight ratio of copper to nickel is in the range of from 1:9 to 9:1.