Patent ID: 6419797
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
In a process for producing purified Guerbet alcohols by condensation of primary and or secondary alcohols having 2 to 30 carbon atoms in the presence of at least one alkaline catalyst and/or at least one heavy metal catalyst wherein a reaction mixture comprising product alcohol is produced the improvement comprising:introducing the reaction mixture produced directly to a first-stage distillation, distilling said reaction mixture in said first-stage distillation to separate at least a portion of the primary and/or secondary alcohols having 2 to 30 carbon atoms from said reaction mixture and produce a first-stage distillation product; and distilling said first-stage distillation product in a second-stage distillation to separate said first stage distillation product from at least one alkaline catalyst residues and/or at least one heavy metal catalyst residue to produce an overhead product Guerbet alcohol stream and a bottoms stream wherein the first stage distillation is a flash distillation and the process does not involve an intermediate washing treatment to separate said at least one alkaline catalyst residue and/or said at least one heavy metal catalyst residue.