Patent ID: 6953867

Claim:
A process for the hydration of olefins, said process comprising reacting an olefin with water in the presence of a catalyst comprising phosphoric acid supported on a catalyst support, said catalyst support comprising synthetic silica and 0.5-10 parts by weight of an oxide or phosphate of at least one element selected from Group IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IIIA, IVA and the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table, wherein the catalyst support is obtainable by mixing particulate synthetic silica with a particulate oxide, phosphate or oxide or phosphate precursor of at least one element selected from Groups IIA, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IIIA, IVA and the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table, forming a catalyst support from the resulting mixture, and calcining the resulting catalyst support.