GB493884A - Improvements in the manufacture of higher alcohols - Google Patents

Abstract

Alcohols of four carbon atoms or more are obtained by mixing the corresponding olefine, in direct contact with a saturated hydrocarbon, normally liquid or liquid under the reaction conditions and capable of functioning as a solvent for the alcohols produced, with a catalyst consisting of one of the following aqueous solutions: 5-55 per cent sulphuric or phosphoric acid, 0,5-15 per cent hydrochloric acid, 0,5-15 per cent zinc, aluminium or cadmium chloride, or 1-40 per cent ammonium chloride, at a temperature of from 30 DEG C. to below 300 DEG C., suitably 150 DEG C., and a pressure not exceeding 300 lb. per sq. in., e.g. 50 lb. per sq. in., separating the catalyst layer from the solvent layer, and removing the alcohol formed from the solvent. When mixtures normally containing olefines and saturated hydrocarbons are used, e.g. the C4 cut, there may be no need to add extra saturated hydrocarbon. When liquid solvents are added, <PICT:0493884/IV/1> the volume is normally from 50 to 95 per cent of that of the starting material in liquid form. As shown, the reaction mixture, in which the olefine may be in gaseous or preferably liquid form, is fed through line 1 to heating coil 3, the saturated hydrocarbon when added passing in by line 2. The heated mixture of olefines and saturated hydrocarbons passes up tower 4 fitted with plates 5 each carrying a pool of, say, sulphuric acid and to which water is introduced by pipe 7. A heating jacket or coils may be provided. The reaction material passes into drum 9, gases separating through pipe 10. The liquid flows through heating coil 12 to distillation tower 13. Steam may be passed in through pipe 14, a condensing coil 15 being provided. The distillate flows through condenser 16 to vessel 17. The hydrocarbon solvent is recirculated by pump 19. If, say, a light naphtha is used as the solvent, it is distilled from the alcohol, the latter being recovered at the base of the tower 13. Pure olefines such as butylene or amylene, or mixtures obtained by cracking hydrocarbon oils, may be used. Examples relate to the treatment of C4 hydrocarbons containing 11 per cent isobutylene. Specification 453,147 is referred to. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 refers also to the use of 10 per cent acetic acid solution as a catalyst. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.