Process to prepare an ethanol-derivate

Process to prepare a catalyst composition comprising a gamma-alumina carrier, metal nano-particles, wherein the metal is selected from silver, copper or gold, and an additive selected from the group of an alkaline metal compound as present as an oxide or hydroxide of the alkaline metal wherein:

• in a first catalyst preparation step a gamma-alumina carrier is contacted with an aqueous solution comprising a salt of the alkaline metal in an impregnation step to obtain a loaded alumina carrier, and wherein the weight of alkaline metal as deposited on the alumina surface of the alumina carrier is greater than the weight of alkaline metal as present in the final catalyst composition, drying the loaded alumina carrier and subjecting the dried loaded alumina carrier to a calcination step,
• loading the silver, copper or gold metal to the calcined loaded carrier in a second catalyst preparation step by contacting with an aqueous solution comprising a silver, copper or gold metal salt and drying to obtain the catalyst composition.

Process to prepare a catalyst composition comprising a gamma-alumina carrier, metal nano-particles wherein the metal is selected from silver, copper or gold and an additive selected from the group of cerium compound or an alkaline metal compound as present as an oxide or hydroxide of the cerium or alkaline metal wherein:

• in a first catalyst preparation step a gamma-alumina carrier is contacted with an aqueous solution comprising a salt of the cerium or alkaline metal in an impregnation step to obtain a loaded alumina carrier, drying the loaded alumina carrier and subjecting the dried loaded alumina carrier to a calcination step,
• and loading the silver, copper or gold metal to the calcined loaded carrier in a second catalyst preparation step by contacting with an aqueous solution of a silver, copper or gold metal salt and drying to obtain the catalyst composition, wherein
• the gamma-alumina carrier used to prepare the catalyst in the first catalyst preparation step has a dried surface which is expressed by its iso-electric point of greater than 7 as measured by preparing an aqueous slurry of the alumina at ambient conditions and measuring the pH of the water phase, wherein the iso-electric point is the measured pH.