GB668963A - Improvements in or relating to the production of alcohols - Google Patents

Abstract

Alcohols are made in a one-stage process by contacting olefinic hydrocarbons containing 2-5 carbon atoms per molecule with CO and H2 and with not less than 5 per cent or not more than 30 per cent by weight of water based on olefine in the presence of a cobalt-containing catalyst at about 250-450 DEG F., and about 2500-3500 p.s.i.g. A solvent is generally used, e.g. product alcohol or a primary alcohol containing one more carbon atom than the olefine used or a hydrocarbon. In an illustration propylene in a primary butanol or hydrocarbon which preferably contains the catalyst 0.5-3 per cent by weight of olefine of a high molecular weight cobalt soap, is reacted as above with about an equimolar mixture of H2 and CO at a preferred temperature of 250-375 DEG F., the ratio of solvent to olefine being 1 to 4 by weight and the amount of added water preferably does not exceed 20 per cent. Alcohols are separated by fractional distillation and filtration from aldehydes and other products and unreacted compounds. A colloidal suspension of cobalt metal or oxide may replace the soap catalyst. A table is given of a series of experiments using propylene and various quantities of water, it being shown that comparatively high yields of alcohol are obtained using the defined amounts of water, and that normal as against isoalcohols are produced. Specification 631,316 is referred to.