US Patent 7022824 Method for the production of sorbit

A process is described for preparing sorbitol by catalytic hydrogenation of a monosaccharide forming sorbitol on hydrogenation in the liquid phase, which comprises the catalyst being obtainable by:i) single or multiple treatment of an amorphous silicon dioxide based support material with a halogen-free aqueous solution of a low-molecular-weight ruthenium compound and subsequent drying of the treated support material at below 200° C.,ii) reducing the solid obtained in i) with hydrogen at from 100 to 350° C.,step ii) being carried out immediately after step i).