We reported a highly efficient conversion of
ethanol to 1-butanol under hydrothermal conditions with
commercial cobalt (Co) metal powder as a recyclable and
inexpensive catalyst. The possible reaction pathways were
explored. Moreover, it has been found that sodium bicarbonate
is better than sodium hydroxide for the Guerbet reaction
because the former led to less corrosion of reaction vessels and
blocked the oxidation of the ethanol to acetic acid.