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: 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: 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: An improved process for making an alcohol by hydration of an olefin in the presence of a cation exchange resin in the acid form as catalyst and in the presence of a solvent for the reactants and product alcohol, wherein the solvent and reactants are introduced to the reactor as a single homogeneous phase to a first-stage reactor. Part of the olefin is added to a second-stage reactor. The effluent from the second stage is passed to a third-stage reactor and the unreacted olefin and solvent from the third-stage effluent are recycled to the first-stage reactor after removal of substantially all of the product alcohol. The process provides improved conversions and yields and enables the use of smaller amounts of solvent.

Abstract: A continuous method for producing tert-butyl alcohol from water and isobutylene in the presence of a strongly acidic cation exchange resin as a catalyst is characterized by: said catalyst particles being filled in a reactor, a liquid isobutylene being continuously brought into contact with water such that said liquid isobutylene is filled in a continuous phase in the gaps between said catalyst particles, and that water streams downwardly along the surface of said catalyst particle and subsequently the reaction mixture being continuously taken out from the reactor. According to the method of this invention, tert-butyl alcohol is obtained in a high yield with little formation of by-products.