BASIC CARBONATE FOR MANUFACTURE OF COPPER-CONTAINING CATALYST

The present invention relates to a basic mixed carbonate of copper and aluminum of the empirical general composition CumAl6(CO3)0.5mO3(OH)m+12 where m is a number between 2 and 6, as obtained by precipitating, at pH 8 to 9.5 and a temperature of from 60.degree. to 90.degree.C, (a) an aqueous dilute solution of copper and aluminum salts capable of being precipitated by carbonate, the copper and aluminum being present in said solution in an atomic ration of from 2:6 to 6:6, with (b) an aqueous alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate solution, the atomic concentration of alkali being about twice the concentration of copper and aluminum in said solution. This coppercontaining material dried and annealed for 1 to 8 hours at 350.degree. to 600.degree.C, is suitable as catalyst precursor for the manufacture of butynediol-1,4.