Conversion of butanol to a reaction product comprising 2-ethylhexanol using hydroxyapatite catalysts

1. A process comprising the step of:

contacting a reactant comprising 1-butanol with a base-treated catalyst composition under suitable reaction conditions to produce a reaction product comprising 2-ethylhexanol;

wherein the suitable reaction conditions include a temperature of about 350° C. to about 425° C. and a pressure from about 0.1 MPa to about 20.7 MPa; and

wherein the base-treated catalyst composition is obtained by treating an initial catalyst composition comprising a hydroxyapatite of Formula (III):

(M m M′ n M″ p M′″ q ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (OH)   (III)

wherein

M is Mg;

M′ is Ca;

M″ is Sr;

M′″ is Ba;

m is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

n is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

p is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

q is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

and m+n+p+q=1

with a base at a treatment temperature from about 25° C. to about 300° C. for a treatment time of about 1 minute to about 24 hours, and optionally washing the isolated base-treated catalyst composition with a minimal amount of water.

2. A process comprising the step of:

contacting a reactant comprising 1-butanol with a base-treated catalyst composition under suitable reaction conditions to produce a reaction product comprising 2-ethylhexanol;

wherein the suitable reaction conditions include a temperature of about 350° C. to about 425° C. and a pressure from about 0.1 MPa to about 20.7 MPa; and

wherein the base-treated catalyst composition is obtained by treating an initial catalyst composition comprising a hydroxyapatite of Formula (I):

(M w M′ x M″ y M′″ z ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (OH)   (I)

wherein

M is Mg;

M′ is Ca;

M″ is Sr;

M′″ is Ba;

w is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

x is any number from 0 to less than 0.5;

y is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

z is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

and w+x+y+z=1

with a base at a treatment temperature from about 25° C. to about 300° C. for a treatment time of about 1 minute to about 24 hours, and optionally washing the base-treated catalyst composition with a minimal amount of water.

3. The process of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the base comprises an aqueous solution of a metal hydroxide Q(OH) f where f is 1 to 3 inclusive and Q is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Sc, Y, Lu, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb, and wherein the aqueous solution has a pH greater than about 11.

4. The process of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the aqueous solution has a pH great than about 11.

5. The process of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the initial catalyst composition further comprises a metal phosphate of Formula (II):

(M a M′ b M″ c M′″ d ) 3 (PO 4 ) 2   (II)

where

M is Mg;

M′ is Ca;

M″ is Sr;

M′″ is Ba;

a is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

b is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

c is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

d is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

and a+b+c+d=1.

6. The process of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the initial catalyst composition further comprises at least one metal or metal ion selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Sc, Y, Lu, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb.

7. The process of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the initial catalyst composition further comprises at least one anionic additive selected from the group consisting of carbonate, silicate, aluminate, arsenate, vanadate, sulfate, and borate.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein m is 0; n is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; p is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; and q is 0.

9. The process of claim 2 , wherein w is 0; x is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; y is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; and z is 0.

10. A process comprising the step of:

contacting a reactant comprising 1-butanol with a catalyst composition under suitable reaction conditions to produce a reaction product comprising 2-ethylhexanol;

wherein the suitable reaction conditions include a temperature of about 350° C. to about 425° C. and a pressure from about 0.1 MPa to about 20.7 MPa; and

wherein the catalyst composition comprises a hydroxyapatite of Formula (I):

(M w M′ x M″ y M′″ z ) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (OH)   (I)

wherein

M is Mg;

M′ is Ca;

M″ is Sr;

M′″ is Ba;

w is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

x is any number from 0 to less than 0.5;

y is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

z is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

and w+x+y+z=1.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the catalyst composition further comprises a metal phosphate of Formula (II):

(M a M′ b M″ c M′″ d ) 3 (PO 4 ) 2   (II)

where

M is Mg;

M′ is Ca;

M″ is Sr;

M′″ is Ba;

a is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

b is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

c is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

d is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive;

and a+b+c+d=1.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein the catalyst composition further comprises at least one metal or metal ion selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Sc, Y, Lu, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb.

13. The process of claim 10 , wherein the catalyst composition further comprises at least one anionic additive selected from the group consisting of carbonate, silicate, aluminate, arsenate, vanadate, sulfate, and borate.

14. The process of claim 10 , wherein w is 0; x is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; y is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; and z is 0.