Patent ID: 7235702

Claim:
A process for the production of alcohols, comprising: (a) subjecting an olefin to a hydration reaction with water to form a reaction product including the corresponding alcohol, the olefin having a carbon chain of 2 to 12 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 in a reaction zone, 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, and producing a product stream; (b) heating the product stream in a reboiler and returning volatile components to step (a) for further processing; (c) recovering a product stream from the reboiler; and, (d) maintaining a sufficient mole fraction of alcohol in the reaction zone such that the product stream from the reboiler essentially comprises the corresponding alcohol and water.