A HYDROGENATION CATALYST AND ITS PRECURSOR COMPRISING NI, AL, AND A SUPPORT MATERIAL COMPRISING SIO2

1 . A hydrogenation catalyst precursor comprising Ni, Al, and a support material comprising SiO 2 , wherein the Ni is supported on the support material, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst precursor exhibits a peak maximum in a temperature programmed reduction in a range of from 350 to 460° C.

2 . The hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation catalyst precursor exhibits a molar ratio Ni:AI of Ni, calculated as elemental Ni, to Al, calculated as elemental Al, in a range of from 5:1 to 200:1.

3 . The hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation catalyst precursor exhibits a molar ratio Ni:Si of Ni, calculated as elemental Ni, to Si, calculated as elemental Si, in a range of from 0.1:1 to 5.00:1.

4 . The hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation catalyst precursor exhibits a total intrusion volume in a range of from 0.3 to 5.0 cm 3 /g.

5 . The hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation catalyst precursor exhibits a total pore volume in a range of from 0.20 to 1.50 cm 3 /g.

6 . The hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation catalyst precursor exhibits a hydrogen adsorption capacity in a range of from 17.0 to 31.0 cm 3 /g.

7 . The hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 , comprising from 15 to 60 weight-% of Ni, calculated as elemental Ni, based on the weight of the hydrogenation catalyst precursor.

8 . A process for preparation of a hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 , the process comprising:

(1) preparing a first aqueous mixture (M1) comprising a support material comprising SiO 2 ;

(2) preparing a second aqueous solution (S2) comprising one or more Ni containing compounds;

(3) preparing a third aqueous solution (S3) comprising one or more bases;

wherein the first aqueous mixture (M1), the second aqueous solution (S2) or the third aqueous solution (S3) comprises one or more Al containing compounds;

(4) feeding solutions S2 and S3 into mixture M1 for supporting Ni and Al on the support material, wherein the resulting mixture has a pH in a range of from 7.1 to 8.4;

(5) isolating the hydrogenation catalyst precursor from the mixture obtained in (4).

9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises

(6) washing the hydrogenation catalyst precursor obtained in (5); and

(7) drying the hydrogenation catalyst precursor obtained in (5) or (6).

10 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises

(8) calcining the hydrogenation catalyst precursor obtained in (5), (6), or (7), to obtain the hydrogenation catalyst precursor.

11 . A hydrogenation catalyst precursor obtainable and/or obtained according to the process of claim 8 .

12 . A process for the preparation of a hydrogenation catalyst, comprising:

(i) providing a hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 ;

(ii) reducing the hydrogenation catalyst precursor provided in (i) in a gas atmosphere comprising hydrogen, obtaining the hydrogenation catalyst.

13 . A hydrogenation catalyst comprising Ni, Si, Al, and O, obtainable and/or obtained according to the process of claim 12 .

14 . A process for the conversion of one or more unsaturated compounds, comprising:

(A) providing one or more unsaturated compounds and a hydrogenation catalyst according to claim 13 and/or a hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 ; and

(B) contacting the one or more unsaturated compounds and a hydrogenation catalyst provided in (A) with hydrogen at a temperature comprised in a range of from 100 to 400° C.

15 . A process comprising dearomatization, a desulfurization, and/or hydrogenation comprising a hydrogenation catalyst precursor according to claim 1 , and/or of a hydrogenation catalyst according to claim 13 .