Rh　nanoparticles　supported　on　commercial　non-purified　N-doped　CNTs　(NCNTs)　containing　residual　CNT　growth　catalyst　have　been　studied　in　hydrogenation　of　CO　to　higher　alcohols.　It　has　been　found　that　Co　and　Mn　residues　in　NCNTs　are　not　inert,　but　change　the　catalyst　under　reaction　conditions　and　efficiently　promote　the　catalyst　resulting　in　both　increasing　activity　and　selectivity　to　C2+　alcohols　with　time　on　stream.　[GRAPHICS]　.