NOVELTY - A reactant comprising ethanol and hydrogen is contacted with a catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure, to obtain 1-butanol-containing reaction product. The catalyst is obtained by heating hydrotalcite (1) for preset temperature and time to cause a diminution in the hydrotalcite powder X-ray diffraction pattern peak intensities between 2 theta angles of 10-70 degrees using copper-K alpha radiation.    USE - Preparation of 1-butanol-containing reaction product.    ADVANTAGE - The preparation of 1-butanol-containing reaction product is carried out effectively using the catalyst derived from hydrotalcite.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A reactant comprising ethanol and hydrogen is contacted with a catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure, to obtain 1-butanol-containing reaction product. The catalyst is obtained by heating hydrotalcite for preset temperature and time to cause a diminution in the hydrotalcite powder X-ray diffraction pattern peak intensities between 2 theta angles of 10-70 degrees using copper-K alpha radiation. The hydrotalcite is of formula: (M2+1-xM3+x(OH)2)(((M'A')(power)(n'))aA(power)n-(1-a)(n'/n))x/n'.yH2O (1).    M2+=divalent magnesium, or combination of divalent magnesium and divalent element selected from zinc, nickel, palladium, platinum, cobalt, iron and/or copper;    M3+=trivalent aluminum, or combination of trivalent aluminum and trivalent element selected from iron and/or chromium;    x=0.66-0.1;    M'=divalent element selected from palladium, platinum, rhodium, cobalt, and/or copper, or trivalent element selected from iron, chromium, gold, iridium and/or ruthenium, or mixture of divalent and trivalent elements;    A'=anion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA);    A(power)n-=CO32- or OH-;    a=0.001-1;    y=0-4;and    n=absolute value of sum of oxidation state of M'and (-4).    When M is mixture of divalent and trivalent elements, then n'is calculated by the formula: n=absolute value of (Xd(2)+ Xd(-4)+ Xt(3)+Xt(-4)), where Xd is the sum of the number-of-moles of all divalent elements divided by (the sum of the number-of-moles of all divalent elements and the sum of the number-of-moles of all trivalent elements) and Xt is the sum of the number-of-moles of all trivalent elements divided by (the sum of the number-of-moles of all divalent elements and the sum of the number-of-moles of all trivalent elements).    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the hydrotalcite material before calcination.