Abstract: The use of modified silicon dioxide as a catalyst support in catalytic reactions under hydrothermal conditions is described. The pore structure of the supports may be stabilized against hydrothermal reaction conditions by impregnating the catalyst supports with elements of Group IVB of the Periodic Tube of Elements.

Abstract: The invention concerns a supported catalyst in the form of packing and constructed on an open-pore support material on whose external and internal surfaces a macro-porous ion exchange resin is mechanically and/or chemically affixed.

Abstract: A process for carrying out a chemical equilibrium reaction is disclosed in which, in a first stage, one or more reactants are contacted with a fixed arrangement of a catalyst under conditions such that the reactants and the products of the reaction are gaseous, the unconverted reactants and products of the first stage being passed to a second stage, in which they are contacted with a fixed arrangement of a catalyst and the reaction allowed to proceed in the presence of an absorbent capable of absorbing a product of the reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel catalyst composition comprising a heteropolyacid and a siliceous support which is in the form of extrudates or pellets and to a process for hydrating olefins to the corresponding alcohols in the vapour phase in the presence of such a catalyst composition. By using the specific catalyst composition described herein it is possible not only to increase the space-time-yield of a process but also to prolong the life thereof thereby reducing the frequency with which the catalyst is changed or replaced on a plant, especially in an olefin hydration process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for hydrating olefins to the corresponding alcohols in the vapor phase in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a heteropolyacid catalyst supported on a clay support, the clay support being a hot acid treated clay. The hot acid treated clay is prepared by progressively leaching a commercial bentonite type clay with hot acid to enable the cations in the clay to be exchanged for hydrogen ions leading to a clay support of surface area greater than 50 m.sup.2 /g. By using the specific acid treated clays as support, it is possible not only to increase the space-time-yield of the process but also to prolong the life of the support thereby reducing the frequency with which the support is changed or replaced on a plant.

Abstract: An ethene stream which contains ethane as an impurity or a propene stream which contains propane as an impurity is hydrated with water vapor in the presence of a hydration catalyst to produce ethanol or isopropanol, respectively. After removal of the alcohol the gaseous product stream is subjected to adsorption, thereby producing an ethene-enriched stream or a propene-enriched stream. The ethene-enriched stream or the propene-enriched stream is recycled to the hydration reactor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the hydration of olefins to the corresponding alcohols in the presence of a catalyst system comprising phosphoric acid catalyst supported on a siliceous support. One of the features of the invention is the use of a support which has a high crush strength, a high porosity and low metallic impurities. Using such a support, the catalyst system and the reaction conditions specified not only increase the life of the catalyst system by preventing loss of the crush strength of the support but also the improve the space-time-yield of the alcohol produced.

Abstract: A method for producing octadienols, which comprises reacting 1,3-butadiene with water in the presence of a palladium compound, a phosphine compound and carbon dioxide, wherein a compound of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.5 and R.sup.9 which may be the same or different, is a hydrocarbon group, and each of R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.10, R.sup.11 and R.sup.12 which may be the same or different, is hydrogen or a substituent, provided that at least one of them is an electron donative substituent, is used as the phosphine compound.

Abstract: Propene is reacted with water in a multi-stage, fluidized bed catalytic reactor to produce an oxygenate motor fuel additive containing a major proportion of isopropanol, a minor proportion of diisopropyl ether, and some water. The molar ratio of water to propene introduced into each catalytic stage of the multi-stage reactor is maintained within a range of from about 2:1 to about 6:1. The temperature of the reactants in each of the catalytic stages is maintained within a range of from about 250.degree. F. to about 320.degree. F. and the pressure at a level of from about 1200 psia to about 3600 psia. The temperature in each catalytic stage increases from the initial catalytic stage to the final catalytic stage with the temperature increase being limited to a value within a range of from about 8.degree. F. to about 1.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for converting propylene to isopropyl alcohol by contacting water with a propylene-containing feed at a mole ratio of water to propylene of at least about 0.5:1 (water:olefin), usually about 1:1-10:1 in the vapor and/or liquid phase under propylene hydration conditions. The hydration is carried out in the presence of a relatively constrained intermediate pore size zeolite such as ZSM-35 or ferrierite as the hydration catalyst. The zeolite is used in the acid form and with a crystal size of not more than 0.2.mu. to give high activity for conversion to isopropyl alcohol.

Abstract: A gas containing water vapor and a minor amount of ethylene and/or propylene is passed through several reactors in series containing a perfluorinated ion-exchange polymer catalyst to convert olefins to alcohols, and alcohol product is recovered from the effluent gases from each reactor.

Abstract: Linear olefins are converted into the corresponding secondary alcohols by treatment with methyl alcohol and a tertiary alcohol, in the presence of an acidic catalyst, at a temperature ranging from 120.degree. to 200.degree. C. The product mixture substantially consists of the desired secondary alcohol and of the methyl ether of the charged tertiary alcohol.The reaction products can be easily isolated by fractionation, or, in some instances, the liquid product mixture can be used as such.Of particular interest is the direct hydration of n-butenes using tert-butyl alcohol as the tertiary alcohol. The obtained product mixture can be used as such, as an additive to methanol-containing gasolines for internal combustion engines.

Abstract: Novel, composited silica catalyst supports suitable for commercial utilization, which may typically have an average pore diameter in the range of about 100 to about 5000 Angstroms, an advantageously high surface area in the range of about 30 to about 125 square meters per gram and a bulk density in the range of about 0.3 to about 0.6 gram per cubic centimeter, are made by mixing amorphous silica powder having an average particle size in the range of about 10 to about 50 millimicrons with a medium suitable for binding the silica powder. The mixture of silica powder and binder is formed into suitable, macrosized catalyst support shapes by press molding, extrusion, tableting and like forming means. The shaped mixture of silica powder and binder is calcined to form the novel silica catalyst supports.

Abstract: A method is provided for the continuous production of isopropanol and secondary butyl alcohol by catalytically hydrating the corresponding aliphatic olefin in an elongated reaction vessel in which co-product by-product dialkyl ether is separated from the reaction product and recycled to the reaction mixture being introduced therein at a point between the olefin feed inlet and the product outlet about 5 to 30 percent of the distance before the product outlet.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for forming ketones from the corresponding olefins in the vapor phase in the presence of water vapor employing a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a molybdenum disulfide catalyst formed by the thermal decomposition of a thiomolybdate compound. It has been surprisingly found that these catalysts effect the formation of ketones in high selectivities with minimal selectivities to the undesirable carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide by-products.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of isopropanol and tertiary butyl alcohol from C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises dehydrogenation of paraffins and direct hydration of the resulting olefins. Fractional distillation steps are employed between the dehydrogenation and dehydration zones and in the recycle stream to recover unconverted hydrocarbons leaving the hydration zone. This accommodates different hydration rates and prevents the passage of propylene into the dehydrogenation zone. In an alternative embodiment, the feed stream comprises olefins and is fed to the fractionation system. The dehydrogenation zone may be deleted from this embodiment.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process is disclosed for the production of lower alcohols and LPG from a mixture of C.sub.3 -minus paraffins and olefins. The feed stream is passed into a hydration zone wherein portions of the ethylene and propylene are converted to ethanol and propanol. The hydrocarbons which are not hydrated are passed into a hydrogenation zone wherein the remaining olefins are converted to paraffins. The feed stream is preferably a hydrogen-containing C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 cut separated from the effluent of a fluidized catalytic cracking unit.

Abstract: A process for the separation of diisopropylether from a hydrocarbon stream containing it, by contacting the stream with ethylene glycol whereby the diisopropylether is absorbed by the glycol and a purified hydrocarbon stream is separated therefrom.

Abstract: A novel catalyst for hydration of ethylene to ethyl alcohol comprises active synthetic silicon dioxide as a base having deposited thereon natural kieselguhr and phosphoric acid. The catalyst is prepared by precipitative silicon dioxide from sodium silicate with hydrochloric acid, filtering the precipitate, admixing it with natural kieselguhr and phosphoric acid and annealing the resultant composition.

Abstract: Secondary alcohols are produced by the hydration of a n-olefin substantially free from an isoolefin in the presence as catalyst of an acidic cation exchange resin such as a sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer and in the presence of an oxy acid or lactone thereof such as .gamma.-valerolactone. The process is especially useful for hydrating a n-butene feed or a feed consisting essentially of n-butenes and butane to produce secondary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of preparing alcohols having 2 to 4 carbon atoms by catalytic hydration of the corresponding olefins on acid catalysts at elevated temperature and elevated pressure, characterized in that byproducts of the hydration, namely corresponding ethers and/or low-polymerized hydrocarbons and/or undesired alcohols, which form upon the passage of the input product through catalyst bed, are fed to the input product before entry into the reactor, said method being characterized in that:A. When ethylene is the olefin, the reaction is conducted at a temperature of 200.degree.-300.degree. C.; andB: When propylene is the olefin the reaction is conducted at a temperature of 150.degree. to 220.degree. C.

Abstract: Olefins can be hydrated to the corresponding alcohols with a hydration catalyst comprising a calcined support consisting of diatomaceous earth, bentonite, silica, cornmeal and cellulose which has been calcined and then impregnated with phosphoric acid.

Abstract: Tertiary alcohols are produced by the hydration of an isoolefin in the presence as catalyst of an acidic cation exchange resin such as a sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer, and a polyhydric neo-type alcohol such as neopentyl glycol. The process is useful for separating isobutylene from a hydrocarbon mixture containing its isomers via preparation of the alcohol, separation from the unreacted hydrocarbons and dehydration of the tertiary butyl alcohol to isobutylene.

Abstract: Olefins can be hydrated to the corresponding alcohols with a hydration catalyst comprising a calcined support consisting of diatomaceous earth, bentonite, silica, cornmeal and cellulose which has been calcined and then impregnated with phosphoric acid.

Abstract: Tertiary alcohols are produced by the hydration of an isoolefin in the presence as catalyst of an acidic cation exchange resin such as a sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer and in the presence of an oxy acid or lactone thereof such as .gamma.-valerolactone. The process is useful for separating isobutylene from a hydrocarbon mixture containing its isomers via preparation of the alcohol, separation from the unreacted hydrocarbons and dehydration of the tertiary butyl alcohol to isobutylene.

Abstract: Trickle-type fixed-bed catalytic reactions are improved, prior to starting or resuming an on-stream period, by purging air from the catalyst bed and reaction zone by downward flow of an inert gas therethrough, flooding the purged reaction zone by flowing a liquid upwardly through the catalyst bed to cover same, then removing the liquid and instituting the on-stream period by introducing gaseous and liquid reactants at the upper end of the catalyst bed to flow downwardly therethrough.

Abstract: Trickle-type fixed-bed catalytic reactions are improved, prior to starting or resuming an on-stream period, by purging air from the catalyst bed and reaction zone by downward flow of an inert gas therethrough, flooding the purged reaction zone by flowing a liquid upwardly through the catalyst bed to cover same, then removing the liquid and instituting the on-stream period by introducing gaseous and liquid reactants at the upper end of the catalyst bed to flow downwardly therethrough.

Abstract: Olefins such as ethylene and propylene are hydrated in the liquid phase at elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure to the corresponding alkanols in an aqueous reaction medium containing a catalytically effective amount of at least one substantially water-insoluble olefin hydration catalyst in the form of solid particles substantially uniformly distributed therein.

Abstract: A process for the hydration of olefins to prepare alcohol is disclosed, the hydration being effected in the presence of a phosphorus acid-containing catalyst. There is disclosed a process in which vaporized phosphoric acid is admixed with a gas mixture before the same is added to the reactor, the phosphoric acid being in an amount corresponding to the amount of phosphoric acid discharged during the hydration. In such amount the process can be carried out without further phosphoric acid addition.

Abstract: An improved process for hydrating with liquid water over a solid catalyst and with a liquid solvent a liquid iso-olefin selected from the group consisting of C.sub.4 iso-olefins and C.sub.5 iso-olefins to form a corresponding product alcohol in the liquid state. The improvement comprises maintaining the liquid iso-olefins, the solvent, and the water in a single liquid phase in order to increase the conversion percentage of the iso-olefin to the corresponding alcohol.