公开了一种醋酸加氢生产乙醇的方法,包括接触氢和原料流在催化剂存在下在反应器中加入乙酸、金属催化剂和锡的混合氧化物,并且优选含有钴的催化剂。金属催化剂选自铼、钌、铑、钯、锇、铱、铂及其复合组合物。原料流可以包括纯乙酸,或可能包括一个混合50重量%至95重量%的醋酸和5重量%至50重量%的乙酸乙酯。 A process for the production of ethanol from hydrogenation of acetic acid is disclosed comprising contacting the hydrogen and the feedstream with a mixed oxide of acetic acid, a metal catalyst and tin in the reactor in the presence of a catalyst, and preferably a cobalt-containing catalyst. The metal catalyst is selected from rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, and combinations thereof. The feed stream may include pure acetic acid, or may include a mixture of 50% to 95% acetic acid by weight and 5% to 50% ethyl acetate by weight.