Abstract: What is claimed is a dealuminated catalyst carrier, a process for producing a catalyst carrier with reduced aluminium content based on naturally occurring lattice-layer silicates, such as, for example, montmorillonite, as well as a process for the hydration reaction of C2- or C3-olefins in which said catalyst carrier with reduced aluminium content is used. For acid-catalysed hydration reaction the catalyst carrier is impregnated with phosphoric acid. The improvements according to the invention of the hydration reaction compared to conventional processes include the fact that no aluminium is leached out of the carrier in the presence of the phosphoric acid. As a result no more blockage of the succeeding apparatus due to aluminum phosphate is expected.

Abstract: A catalyst support comprising silicates is described. This catalyst support has a lower aluminum content than naturally occurring sheet silicates and can be used in the hydration of C2 and C3 olefins to produce C2 and C3 alcohols. A method for the production of the catalyst support and a process for hydrating C2 and C3 olefins are also described. One advantage of this catalyst support is the reduction in aluminum leaching that occurs when this catalyst is used in the presence of phosphoric acid.

Abstract: What is claimed is a dealuminated catalyst carrier, a process for producing a catalyst carrier with reduced aluminum content based on naturally occurring lattice-layer silicates, such as, for example, montmorillonite, as well as a process for the hydration reaction of C2- or C3-olefins in which said catalyst carrier with reduced aluminium content is used. For acid-catalysed hydration reaction the catalyst carrier is impregnated with phosphoric acid. The improvements according to the invention of the hydration reaction compared to conventional processes include the fact that no aluminium is leached out of the carrier in the presence of the phosphoric acid. As a result no more blockage of the succeeding apparatus due to aluminium phosphate is expected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the preparation of cumene by reacting isopropanol or a mixture of isopropanol and propene with benzene in the presence of a ?-zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio greater than 10:1 that can be integrated in a process for preparing phenol, which comprises preparing cumene as described above, oxidizing cumene to cumene hydroperoxide, acid-catalyzed cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide to give phenol and acetone, and hydrogenating acetone to form isopropanol.

Abstract: A dealuminized catalyst carrier, a method for producing a catalyst carrier having a lower aluminum content on the basis of naturally occurring sheet silicates, such as montmorilonite, and to a method for hydrating C2 or C3 olefins which uses the catalyst carrier having a lower aluminum content. For the acid-catalyzed hydration reaction the carrier is saturated with phosphoric acid. The improvement the invention provides for in comparison with known hydration methods is characterized in that the carrier is no longer subject to aluminum leaching in the presence of phosphoric acid. As a result, there is no further risk of aluminum phosphate blockages occurring in the apparatus positioned downstream of the reaction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of cumene by reacting isopropanol or a mixture of isopropanol and propene with benzene in presence of a &bgr;-zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio greater than 10:1 that can be integrated in a process for preparing phenol, which comprises the steps I. preparation of cumene as described above, II. oxidation of cumene to cumene hydroperoxide, III. acid-catalyzed cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide to give phenol and acetone and IV. hydrogenation of acetone to form isopropanol. In the reaction of isopropanol with benzene, propene is formed by dehydration of isopropanol simultaneously with the alkylation of benzene to cumene by means of isopropanol and the propene formed is likewise used for the alkylation of benzene to cumene. Formation of n-propylbenzene in this process step according to the invention is barely observed or is in the range below 150 wppm.

Abstract: Alkyl tert-alkyl ethers are cleaved into the corresponding isoolefins and alkanols by a process comprising acid-catalyzed reactive distilling an alkyl tert-alkyl ether fed into the reaction zone of a reactive distillation apparatus as an azeotrope of the alkyl tert-alkyl ether and the corresponding alkanol, wherein the reactive distillation apparatus is configured from bottom to top as a bottom zone, at least one distillation zone and a reaction zone. The process is suitable for the cleavage of primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl tert-alkyl ethers, in particular MTBE.

Abstract: Alkyl tert-alkyl ethers are cleaved into the corresponding isoolefins and alkanols by a process comprising acid-catalyzed reactive distilling an alkyl tert-alkyl ether fed into the reaction zone of a reactive distillation apparatus as an azeotrope of the alkyl tert-alkyl ether and the corresponding alkanol, wherein the reactive distillation apparatus is configured from bottom to top as a bottom zone, at least one distillation zone and a reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the acid-catalyzed cracking of tertiary butyl alcohol in a reaction distillation column. The advantage of the process of the present invention compared with conventional processes is that the two-phase, liquid-liquid region of the tertiary system TBA/water/isobutene is avoided and a high space-time yield is achieved. This is achieved by the arrangement of the catalyst pack above the liquid phase zone (bottom) and by the use of a dephlegmator thus achieving the isolation of isobutene of high purity.