Process for preparation of fuel additives from acetylene

A process for the liquefaction of acetylene in a crude acetylene stream comprising acetylene, water, and at least one of methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, wherein the water content of the stream is in the range of from about 0.1 (mole)% to about 70 (mole)% and the mole ratio of acetylene-to-water in the stream is from about 100:1 to about 1:35 in the presence of a zirconia-alumina catalyst wherein the alumina content is in the range from 1 (wt)% to about 10 (wt)%, the zirconia surface area of said catalyst is from about 10 to about 100 m.sup.2 /g, the surface alumina:zirconium (Al:Zr) atomic ratio is 0.01:1 to 20:1, at a temperature within the range of from about 200.degree. to 500.degree. C. and a pressure of from about 0.5 to 2.0 atmosphere, to form at least one of aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic and aliphatic oxygenated products.