Various catalysts composed of Fe, Al, Cu, Ni and Co were tested for hydrogenolysis of fatty acid ester to prepare saturated higher alcohol.
It was found that Fe-Cu-O and Fe-Cu-Al-O catalysts have excellent ability for this reaction.
From the view of the lower cost of the catalyst, the lower reaction temperature and of the higher yield of alcohol, these catalysts containing 1020% of copper oxide are believed as better ones than Cu-Cr-O catalysts being customarily used for hydrogenolysis of coconut oil in the industrial process.