Abstract: An activated novel fixed-bed Raney nickel catalyst for hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane was prepared by extruding the Ni-Al alloy powder, sesbania cannavina (S.C.) powder with binding materials made of pseudoboehmite, calcining the extrudates in air at a high temperature, and leaching out the aluminum with caustic solution. The experimental results showed that the alloy phase rich in aluminum was gradually transformed into the phase poor in aluminum during the calcination of the alloy extrudates and a small part of aluminum in Ni-Al alloy was oxidized to α-alumina to increase the catalyst compressive strength.The analysis results of SEM and BET showed that wider aperture and abundant macroporosity existed on the catalyst surface.The results of benzene hydrogenation suggested that the novel catalyst showed a higher hydrogenation activity than γ-alumina supported nickel catalyst and the same type of fixed-bed Raney nickel catalyst prepared according to the patent methods.