Conversion of ethanol to a reaction product comprising 1-butanol using hydroxyapatite catalysts

1. A process comprising the step of:

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

wherein the suitable reaction conditions include a temperature of about 150° C. to about 500° 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.

2. The process of claim 1 , 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.

3. The process of claim 1 , 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.

4. The process of claim 1 , 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.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein w is 1, x is 0, y is 0, and z is 0.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein w is 0, x is 0, y is 1, and z is 0.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein w is 0, x is 0, y is 0, and z is 1.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein w is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; x is any number from 0 to less than 0.5; y is 0; and z is 0.

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

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

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein w is 0; x is any number from 0 to less than 0.5; y is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive; and z is 0.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein w is 0; x is any number from 0 to less than 0.5; y is 0; and z is any number between 0 and 1 inclusive.

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

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the initial catalyst composition comprises an isolated solid.

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein the initial catalyst composition is calcined before treatment with base.

16. The process of claim 1 , 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.

17. The process of claim 1 , wherein the base-treated catalyst composition is washed with a total of about 0 to about 20 mL of water per g of solid.

18. The process of claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing the reactant comprising ethanol by fermentation.

19. The process of claim 1 , wherein a reactant comprising ethanol is provided in the form of a gas-phase reactant stream comprising a C 2 —C 6 primary or secondary alcohol having a methylene group at the a-position.

20. A process comprising the step of:

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

wherein the suitable reaction conditions include a temperature of about 150° C. to about 500° 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.