Selective hydrogenation of soybean oil. VI. Copper‐on‐silica gel catalysts

The preparation of copper‐on‐silica gel catalysts containing 15% and 20% copper is described. These catalysts can be reused three times without appreciable loss of activity. Their activity compares favorably with the highly active 5% copper‐on‐silica gel catalyst previously reported. Higher copper catalysts are somewhat less selective for the reduction of linolenate in soybean oil than 5% copper‐on‐silica gel, but these copper catalysts have greater activity, better reuse characteristics, and selectivity comparable to commercial copper‐chromite catalysts.