Abstract: A process for producing alcohols from carbonaceous materials such as biomass. The carbonaceous material, such as biomass, is gasified to produce synthesis gas. The synthesis gas then is subjected to a plurality of reactions to produce alcohols having at least four carbon atoms such as butanol and isobutanol.

Abstract: A process for producing alcohols having three carbon atoms from carbonaceous materials such as biomass. The carbonaceous material, such as biomass, is gasified to produce synthesis gas. The synthesis gas then is subjected to a plurality of reactions to produce alcohols such as n-propanol and isopropanol.

Abstract: A membrane-integrated hydration reactor that is operable to produce an associated alcohol product from an olefin using water includes a solid acid olefin hydration catalyst in a production zone and a hydrophilic membrane operable to selectively permit pervaporation of water one-way and not permit pervaporation of the associated alcohol or permeation of the olefin at olefin hydration process conditions in a separations zone. The production zone is operable to form a production zone product mixture made of the associated alcohol and any unreacted water. The associated separations zone is operable to form and produce both the associated alcohol product and a pervaporated water product from the production zone product mixture. A method of olefin hydration for forming an associated alcohol product from an olefin using water uses the membrane-integrated hydration reactor at olefin hydration process conditions.

Abstract: An olefin hydration process and reactor are provided, wherein an integrated membrane selectively removes alcohol product from the reactor, thereby allowing for increased yields.

Abstract: Ethane is oxidized to ethylene and/or oxygenates that comprise acetic acid. The acetic acid may be converted to ethanol by hydrogenation. The ethylene may be converted to ethanol by hydration.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the synthesis of alcohol are described herein. The methods and systems include a method of hydrating an olefin that may include emulsifying an olefin gas in a water stream in a high shear device under high shear conditions to produce a dispersion; and contacting the dispersion with a catalyst to hydrate the olefin gas and form an alcohol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the synthesis of alcohol are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of olefins in water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time. In an embodiment, a method of making an alcohol comprises introducing an olefin into a water stream to form a gas-liquid stream. The method further comprises flowing the gas-liquid stream through a high shear device so as to form a dispersion with gas bubbles having a mean diameter less than about 1 micron. In addition, the method comprises contacting the gas-liquid stream with a catalyst in a reactor to hydrate the olefin gas and form an alcohol.

Abstract: Convert an alkylene to a product stream that comprises an alkanol by subjecting a gaseous combination of a) an alkylene selected from ethylene, propylene or a combination thereof, b) carbon monoxide, c) hydrogen and, optionally, d) at least one hydrocarbon or gas diluent other than ethylene or propylene to reductive hydroformylation conditions in combination with a solid phase, sulfided, heterogeneous catalyst.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the synthesis of alcohol are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of olefins in water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time. In an embodiment, a method of making an alcohol comprises introducing an olefin into a water stream to form a gas-liquid stream. The method further comprises flowing the gas-liquid stream through a high shear device so as to form a dispersion with gas bubbles having a mean diameter less than about 1 micron. In addition, the method comprises contacting the gas-liquid stream with a catalyst in a reactor to hydrate the olefin gas and form an alcohol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the synthesis of alcohol are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of olefins in water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time. In an embodiment, a method of making an alcohol comprises introducing an olefin into a water stream to form a gas-liquid stream. The method further comprises flowing the gas-liquid stream through a high shear device so as to form a dispersion with gas bubbles having a mean diameter less than about 1 micron. In addition, the method comprises contacting the gas-liquid stream with a catalyst in a reactor to hydrate the olefin gas and form an alcohol.

Abstract: A process for preparing an epoxidation catalyst comprising silver and a high-selectivity dopant on a support, which process comprises depositing a base having a pKb of at most 3.5 when measured in water at 25° C., on the support prior to depositing silver on the support, and depositing silver and a high-selectivity dopant on the support; the epoxidation catalyst; and a process for preparing an olefin oxide by reacting an olefin with oxygen in the presence of the epoxidation catalyst.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide, for the production of isobutene, a high-yielding, highly-selective, and long-term stable production process of isobutene from TBA. With respect to the production of TBA, an object of the present invention is to provide a TBA production process in which, through long-term stable maintenance of a high reaction activity, long-term continuous operation is enabled and the productivity is improved. The present invention discloses a process for producing isobutene that employs a dehydration temperature of from 200 to 450° C. in use of an alumina catalyst that contains a Na content of 0.6% by weight or less in terms of NaO2 and a Na content of 0.4% by weight in terms of NaO2, and has a specific surface area of from 200 to 600 m2/g.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the chemical conversion of syngas to alcohols. The invention includes catalyst compositions, methods of making the catalyst compositions, and methods of using the catalyst compositions. Certain embodiments teach compositions for catalyzing the conversion of syngas into products comprising at least one C1-C4 alcohol, such as ethanol. These compositions generally include cobalt, molybdenum, and sulfur. Preferred catalyst compositions for converting syngas into alcohols include cobalt associated with sulfide in certain preferred stoichiometries as described and taught herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the synthesis of alcohol are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of olefins in water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time. In an embodiment, a method of making an alcohol comprises introducing an olefin into a water stream to form a gas-liquid stream. The method further comprises flowing the gas-liquid stream through a high shear device so as to form a dispersion with gas bubbles having a mean diameter less than about 1 micron. In addition, the method comprises contacting the gas-liquid stream with a catalyst in a reactor to hydrate the olefin gas and form an alcohol.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to the production of alcohols. A first aspect of the invention relates to a process for production of alcohols, and in particular to a process for the catalytic hydration of an olefin to the corresponding alcohol in substantially anhydrous form, under selected mild reaction conditions, and using a selected catalyst. A second aspect of the invention relates to a process for dehydration of an azeotropic mixture, including a first alcohol and water. A hydration reaction between the water in the azeotropic mixture and an added olefin, under selected mild conditions, and using a selected catalyst, produces a product including a second alcohol corresponding to the olefin, and the first alcohol, in substantially anhydrous form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing tert-butanol by reaction of a homogeneous mixture comprising water, tert-butanol and an isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixture over an acidic ion-exchange resin at from 30 to 120° C., wherein the homogeneous mixture contains, at a proportion by mass of isobutene of above 10%, from 30 to 80% of the maximum amount of water made possible by the solubility of water in the mixture of tert-butanol and the isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixture.

Abstract: Discloses a process for efficiently producing a hydroxyl group containing compound with a simple apparatus and simple procedures using a very small amount of a catalyst, which process reduces a catalyst recovering step and a catalyst neutralization step vastly and does not require catalyst regeneration and catalyst exchange. The process for producing a hydroxyl group containing compound comprises allowing an aqueous solution containing 1 ppb to 500 ppm of an acid catalyst to react with an aliphatic double bond having compound in a molar ratio (water/aliphatic double bond having compound) of water to aliphatic double bond having compound of from 1 to 50, at a reaction temperature of from 200 to 600° C. under a reaction pressure of from 1 to 100 MPa and thereby conducting hydration reaction of the aliphatic double bond containing compound with water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing tert-butanol (TBA) from isobutene-containing mixtures, in which at least part of the conversion is achieved with the aid of a reactive rectification.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing tert-butanol (TBA) by reacting isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixtures with water over acidic solid catalysts in a plurality of reactors, wherein the conversion is increased upstream of the last reactor by removing a portion of the TBA present in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing tert-butanol (TBA) by reacting an isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixture with water over a solid acid catalyst in a reactor cascade, wherein at least one reactor is supplied alternately with two different isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixtures, of which one has both a higher tert-butanol content and a higher water content than the other mixture.

Abstract: Tertiary alcohols can be prepared by the hydration of tertiary olefins having the same number of carbon atoms on an acidic ion exchanger using special structured multi-purpose packings for heterogeneous reactive rectification. An excellent yield and purity of the alcohol and an extended service life of the catalyst are achieved.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to the production of alcohols. A first aspect of the invention relates to a process for production of alcohols, and in particular to a process for the catalytic hydration of an olefin to the corresponding alcohol in substantially anhydrous form, under selected mild reaction conditions, and using a selected catalyst. A second aspect of the invention relates to a process for dehydration of an azeotropic mixture, including a first alcohol and water. A hydration reaction between the water in the azeotropic mixture and an added olefin, under selected mild conditions, and using a selected catalyst, produces a product including a second alcohol corresponding to the olefin, and the first alcohol, in substantially anhydrous form.

Abstract: This invention relats to a continuous process for the hydration of olefins with water in the vapour phase to the corresponding alcohol in the presence of a heteropolyacid salt as catalyst said process including the recycle of un-reacted olefin back to the hydration reaction characterised in that the heteropolyacid salt is a metal salt of silicotungstic acid or phosphotungstic acid which is soluble in a polar solvent below 40.degree. C. wherein the metal in the salt is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Olefinic hydrocarbons may be hydrated to form corresponding alcohols by treating said olefins with water in the presence of an acidic compound which acts as a catalyst, said hydration reaction being effected at a temperature in the range of from about 100.degree. to about 300.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of from about 1 to about 100 atmospheres. In addition, the reaction medium also contains a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, barium, beryllium and radium, said metal salts suppressing the corrosive nature of the acid catalyst and thus permitting the reaction to be effected in normal metal reactors.

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: A process for producing tert-butanol by selective hydration of isobutylene in a hydrocarbon mixture comprising isobutylene and n-butene where an aqueous solution is used which contains a heteropolyacid, characterized in that the hydration reaction of isobutylene is carried out at a temperature of less than 100.degree. C.

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 production of fatty alcohols containing from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, which comprises reacting an olefin containing from 2 to 5 carbon atoms with water. The reaction is effected at a temperature of from 150 to 280.degree. C and a pressure of from 10 to 70 atmospheres in the presence of an aluminosilicate catalyst, type Y zeolite, containing a calcium cation and chromium oxide, and which may also contain a chromium cation and/or at least one cation of a rare-earth element. The process of the invention is preferably carried out in a mutual solvent for the reactants (the olefin and water), and under a mild set of conditions and provides for a sufficiently high yield of the desired product. The high selectivity of the catalyst employed in the process ensures a high purity of the product alcohols. The catalyst is further distinguished by its stability.

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.