Abstract: A process for recovering alcohol from a fatty acid and/or diacid alcohol ester using water in an equal or lesser amount than oil on a mass basis. The process uses multiple reactors with separation of the alcohol product of hydrolysis between successive reactors. The use of low amounts of water allows recovery of the alcohol with a lower evaporation requirement, thus making a more energy efficient process.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing hexafluoroisopropanol is provided which comprises contacting hexafluoroacetone with hexafluoroisopropanol and hydrogen to produce a liquid feed stream; introducing the liquid feed stream to a reactor containing an immobilized hydrogenation catalyst to convert the hexafluoroacetone to hexafluoroisopropanol and provide a product stream; and recovering at least a portion of the hexafluoroisopropanol from the product stream. Preferably a portion of the product stream is recycled. The reactor can be a packed bed or stirred tank reactor.