Catalytic hydrogenation of citral was performed in a batch reactor under elevated pressures. The reaction was studied with a Pt on active carbon fiber catalyst and a commercial Pt on active carbon powder catalyst. Platinum was supported on active carbon by impregnation. The influence on selectivity and activity, of the most important variables, such as temperature and pressure, was investigated in the batch reactor. Four consecutive experiments were carried out with each catalyst. The aim with the reuse of catalysts in the batch reactor was to elucidate eventual catalyst deactivation. The decrease in activity was fairly notable. The catalysts were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, N-2-physisorption, and inductively coupled plasma analysis combined with mass spectroscopy. With the Pt on active carbon fiber catalyst, 80-100% selectivity of carbonyl group hydrogenation was achieved at 15% conversion. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.