Patent ID: 6833483
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for the production of alcohols, comprising:(a) subjecting an olefin to a hydration reaction with water at a pressure of about 0.1 to 4 Mpa and in a temperature range of 50-225Â° C. to form a reaction product including the corresponding alcohol, water is fed to the process at a feed ratio of water to olefin is in the range of 1:3 to 1:5, the olefin having a carbon chain of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, the carbon chain being selected from a linear chain and a branched chain, the reaction being conducted in the presence of a solid state olefin hydration catalyst, the catalyst is a silicate, having a highly regular crystallographic structure characterized by a large surface area, and interconnected cavities within the regular structure, the temperature and pressure of the hydration reaction being selected so that the olefin is largely in a vapour phase and the alcohol is in the liquid phase, the olefin being in a molar excess when compared with water; (b) recovering a product stream containing alcohol and volatile components from step (a) and subjecting the product stream to heating and returning the volatile components to step (a) for further processing; and (c) simultaneously recovering the alcohol as a substantially anhydrous liquid.