Patent ID: 8344188
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: C07C,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for producing ethanol and 2-propanol from methanol, said method comprising: (a) converting methanol, in the presence of a methanol-to-olefins catalyst, into a stream including ethylene and propylene; (b) feeding said stream from step (a) and water to a reactive-distillation unit including a first zone containing an propylene-hydration catalyst, a second zone containing a ethylene-hydration catalyst, an overhead stream, and a bottoms stream; (c) operating said reactive-distillation unit under effective conditions for hydration of propylene to 2-propanol in said first zone and ethylene to ethanol in said second zone; and (d) recovering ethanol and 2-propanol in one or more exit streams from said reactive-distillation unit.