Abstract: The invention relates to the production of isopropyl alcohol from di-isopropyl ether by catalytic distillation. The process solves, in particular, problems associated with the Sulfuric Acid Process.

Abstract: A process for producing high purity isopropyl alcohol. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of: (a) feeding a feed stream comprising at least about 99.9 wt. % isopropyl alcohol into a separation column; (b) separating the isopropyl alcohol into an overhead stream taken overhead from the separation column and a bottoms stream taken as bottoms from the separation column; and (c) removing the high purity isopropyl alcohol at a point: (i) below where the feed stream enters the separation column but above the bottoms stream, or (ii) above where the feed stream enters the separation column but below the overhead stream. The high purity isopropyl alcohol has a metals content of less than about 1 ppb and a water content of less than about 100 ppm.

Abstract: An improved process for indirect hydration of propylene to form di-isopropyl ether and isopropyl alcohol is provided in which propylene is absorbed in sulfuric acid to form an extract which is withdrawn from the absorbing zone; water in carefully controlled amounts is admixed with the extract and the resulting mixture is passed to an ether generating zone to form a vaporous ether product and a bottoms product depleted in di-isopropyl ether and containing sulfuric acid in a concentration at least equal to the acid concentration in the extract withdrawn from the absorbing zone. The withdrawn bottoms is then divided into two portions: a first portion is recycled to the absorber; and the second such portion is admixed with sufficient water to hydrate absorbed olefin values and the resulting mixture is fed to an alcohol generator for formation of isopropyl alcohol as overhead product and dilute sulfuric acid as bottoms product.