Catalytic conversion of ethanol and methanol to an isobutanol-containing reaction product using a thermally decomposed hydrotalcite containing the anion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

1. A process for making an isobutanol-containing product, comprising:

contacting a reactant comprising ethanol and methanol with a catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure sufficient to produce said reaction product, wherein said catalyst is derived from a hydrotalcite of the formula:

[M 2+ 1−x M 3+ x (OH) 2 ][{(M′A′) n′−} a A n− (1−a)(n′/n)]x/n′.y H 2 O

wherein

M 2+ is divalent Mg, or a combination of divalent Mg and at least one divalent member selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ni, Pd, Pt, Co, Fe, and Cu;

M 3+ is trivalent Al, or a combination of trivalent Al and at least one trivalent member selected from the group consisting of Fe and Cr;

x is 0.66 to 0.1;

M′ is (i) one or more divalent members selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ni, Pd, Pt, Fe, Co, and Cu; or (ii) one or more trivalent members selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cr, and Ru; or (iii) a mixture of one or more of said divalent members with one or more of said trivalent members;

A′ is an anion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid;

n′ is absolute value of a sum of an oxidation state of M′ and (−4); provided that if M′ is said mixture, then n′ is calculated according to the following equation:

n ′=an absolute value of [X D (2)+X D (−4)+X T (3)+X T (−4)], wherein

X D =a sum of a number of moles of all divalent members divided by (a sum of a number of moles of all divalent members+a sum of a number of moles of all trivalent members), and

X T =a sum of the number of moles of all trivalent members divided by (the sum of the number of moles of all divalent members+the sum of the number of moles of all trivalent members);

A n− is CO 3 2− with n=2 or OH − with n=1;

a=0.001 to 1; and

y=0 to 4;

wherein the hydrotalcite catalyst is partially decomposed.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the decomposition is achieved by heating for a time and at a temperature sufficient to cause a diminution in the hydrotalcite powder X-ray diffraction pattern peak intensities between 2θ angles of 10 degrees and 70 degrees using CuKα radiation.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein M 2+ is Mg.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein M 3+ is Al.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein M′ is Co.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein M′ is Ni.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein M′ is Cr.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein M′ is Pt.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein A n− is OH.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein M 2+ is Mg; M 3+ is Al; x is 0.25; a is 0.44; A′ is the anion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; M′ is Co; A n− is OH − ; n′ is 2; n is 1.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein M 2+ is Mg; M 3+ is Al; x is 0.25; a is 0.44; A′ is the anion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; M′ is Ni; A n− is OH − ; n′ is 2; n is 1.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein M 2+ is Mg; M 3+ is Al; x is 0.25; a is 0.10; A′ is the anion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; M′ is Ni; A n− is OH − ; n′ is 2; n is 1.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein said reaction temperature is from about 200° C. to about 500° C., and said pressure is from about 0.1 MPa to about 20.7 MPa.