Abstract: A process for the preparation of ethanol by catalytic hydration of ethylene in which the crude ethanol is separated by distillation in a first column into a bottom stream consisting of aqueous ethanol and a top stream containing diethyl ether and acetaldehyde, the bottom stream is processed further in a second column, the top stream is hydrogenated and then fractionated in a third column together with an impurities containing stream originating from the second column, and optionally the diethyl ether containing top stream of the third column is recycled to the hydration reactor.

Abstract: The oxo process wherein propene is hydroformylated and then distilled to separate n-butyraldehyde, iso-butyraldehyde, n-butanol, iso-butanol, n-butyl formate, iso-butyl formate and distillation residues having an acid number of about 80 to 130 is improved by adding to the distillation residues molar to twice molar amounts, relative to the acid content, of n-butanol, isobutanol or mixtures thereof, carrying out an esterification in the presence of catalytically active amounts of sulphonic acids at temperatures from about 50.degree. to 200.degree. C., separating off the water of reaction, distilling the esterification reaction product and hydrogenating the distillate thereof.

Abstract: Primary alcohol containing impurities which have internal hydroxyl groups is purified to cause removal of such internal hydroxyl groups with reduced formation of ethers by treating the impure alcohol with an alumina catalyst which has been contacted with a hydroxide of a Group 1-A element. Preferably the alcohol treatment is concurrent with or followed by a hydrogenation treatment the purpose of which is to improve the iodine number of the treated alcohol.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for the manufacture of 2-ethylhexanol wherein n-butyraldehyde is subjected to aldol condensation, the resultant aldol condensation product is catalytically hydrogenated in a hydrogenation stage and the hydrogenation product is subjected to two separate multiple stage distillations to separate, in the first case the first runnings, a fraction containing the main amount of 2-ethylhexanol, and the residue. In the second case this residue is separated into a 2-ethylhexanol fraction and a distillation residue, the improvement residing in cracking the distillation residue by heating the same at 200 to 250.degree. C whereby to obtain cracked products comprising n-butanal, 2-ethylhexenal, 2-ethylhexanal, and/or 2-ethylhexanol together with non-cracked higher boiling substances. The cracked products are separated from the non-cracked products and the cracked products are recycled to the hydrogenation stage.

Abstract: The amount of formic acid ester produced by the Oxo Process is reduced and the amount of alcohol is increased when the reaction product of said process, in contact with a copper/nickel supported catalyst, is subjected to elevated temperatures. Such catalysts are also useful for the conversion, by hydrogenation, of formyl esters to their corresponding alcohols.