The present study optimizes Cu-supported catalysts on hydrotalcite for the synthesis of n-butanol whose interest
is in its use as biofuel, due to its superior performance in comparison with other short-chain alcohols. The
catalytic performance was improved by adding Nb to the catalytic formulation. In this way, several Cu-Nb
catalysts supported on hydrotalcites (Mg/Al) with different Nb loadings were synthesized by incipient wetness
impregnation and characterized by H2 temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption,
CO2 and NH3 thermo-programmed desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was shown that the
incorporation of Nb promoted a suitable balance between the acid-basic and redox sites, modulating the Cu0/Cu+
dehydrogenation/hydrogenation properties for the n-BuOH production. The synthesis of multiple value-added
products (n-BuOH, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, and 1-hexanol) was achieved in both the liquid (at 180 ºC)
and gas phase (150 350 ºC), where it was demonstrated that both the n-BuOH selectivity and ethanol con-
version improved with the Nb addition. The performance of the catalysts under time on stream and their
recycling is also described.
