FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a catalyst for producing ethylene glycol via oxalate hydrogenation, wherein the catalyst contains (a) an active component in form of nanoparticles which contain copper, wherein the active component is present in concentration of 5 to 35 wt%; (b) an auxiliary substance in form of nanoparticles which contain an element selected from a group consisting of nickel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, aluminum, zirconium, cerium, lanthanum, molybdenum, vanadium, bismuth, boron and phosphorus, wherein the auxiliary substance is present in concentration from 0.01 to 20 wt%; and (c) a carrier in form of hollow microspheres of mesoporous silicon dioxide, on surfaces of which active compound nanoparticles and auxiliary substance nanoparticles are dispersed, wherein said microspheres have average particle diameter of 50 to 5,000 nm and average thickness of outer shell of 5 to 500 nm, wherein said catalyst has specific surface area of 100 to 1,200 m2/g. Invention also relates to a method of producing the disclosed catalyst and a method of producing ethylene glycol.
EFFECT: high conversion ratio of oxalate and high selectivity with respect to ethylene glycol.
11 cl, 2 tbl, 1 ex
