GB718723A - Improvements in and relating to the hydration of olefines - Google Patents

Abstract

Olefines are hydrated to the corresponding alcohols by contacting the olefine and water at elevated temperature and pressure with a catalyst comprising an intimate admixture of two different oxides, the major component (90-99 mols.) being titania, stannic oxide, manganese dioxide, or ferric oxide, and the minor component (1-10 mols.) being titania, stannic oxide, arsenic pentoxide, antimony pentoxide, bismuth pentoxide, molybdenum trioxide, or tungsten trioxide; the oxide in the minor amount is derived from an element in a higher valency state than that of the metal in the oxide in the major amount (see Group III). The use of catalysts containing titania and tungstic oxide is excluded. The hydration may be carried out at 250-330 DEG C. (preferably 270 DEG C.) and at 150-500 atmospheres (preferably 250 atmospheres). In an example, the catalyst is suspended in a wire basket in an autoclave containing water, and propylene is admitted; a product containing isopropanol is obtained. Specification 710,006 is referred to. The Provisional Specification refers also to the use of catalysts in which the major component is ZnO, CdO, or HgO, and the minor component is ZrO2, Nb2O5, Te2O3, GeO2, ThO2, TeO2, CeO2, or V2O5. Reference is made also to the dehydration of alcohols using the same catalysts.ALSO:Catalysts for the hydration of olefines (see Group IV (b)) comprises an intimate admixture of two different oxides, the major component (90-99 moles) being titania, stannic oxide, manganese dioxide, or ferric oxide, and the minor component (1-10 moles) being titania, stannic oxide, arsenic pentoxide, antimony pentoxide, bismuth pentoxide molybdenum trioxide, or tungsten trioxide; the oxide in the minor amount is derived from an element in a higher valency state than that of the metal in the oxide in the major amount. Catalysts containing titania and tungstic oxide are excluded. The catalysts may be prepared by co-precipitation by precipitating one of the oxides in the presence of the other, or by mixing the two oxides. In examples (1) and (2) antimony pentoxide or arsenic pentoxide is combined with titania gel prepared by adding ammonia to an aqueous solution of titanium tetrachloride; (3) titania gel pellets are impregnated with an aqueous solution of antimony pentachloride, which is then hydrolysed with ammonia; (4) ammonia is added to an aqueous solution containing ferric chloride and titanium tetrachloride; (5) tungstic acid is combined with ferric oxide gel prepared by adding ammonia to ferric chloride. The products are dried and may be calcined, granulated, and pelleted, and reduced with hydrogen prior to use. Specification 710,006 is referred to. The Provisional Specification refers also to catalysts in which the major component is ZnO, CdO, or HgO, and the minor component is ZrO2, Nb2O5, Tl2O3, GeO2, ThO2, TeO2, CeO2, or V2O5. An additional example describes the preparation of a catalyst by mixing the precipitated oxides of zinc and tin. The catalysts are stated to be useful also for dehydration of alcohols.