Process for the manufacture of acetylenic alcohols and acetylenic gamma-glycols

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING ACETYLENIC PRODUCTS BY THE INTERACTION OF AN ACETYLENIC HYDROCARBON AND A COMPOUND OF A GROUP CONSISTING OF ALDEHYDES AND KETONES IN THE PRESENCE OF ANHYDROUS POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES MIXING CONCENTRATED POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE CONTAINING WATER WITH A HYDROCARBON HAVING A BOILING POINT OF AT LEAST ABOUT 190* C. AND WHICH IS INERT WITH RESPECT TO POTASSIUM HHYDROXIDE, HEATING THE MIXTURE TO A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 180* TO 190* C. WITH AGITATION AND WHILE CONTINUING THE AGITATION AND MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE SLOWLY ADDING TO THE MIXTURE A QUANTITY OF CALCIUM CARBIDE IN EXCESS OF THAT NECESSARY TO REACT WITH THE WATER CONTENT OF THE CONCENTRATED POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, COLLECTING THE ACETYLENE GAS EVOLVED FROM THE REACTION BETWEEN THE CALCIUM CARBIDE AND THE WATER CONTENT OF THE CONCENTRATED POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, COOLING THE MIXTURE RESULTING FROM THE FOREGOING OPERATIONS AND FILTERING OFF THE SOLIDS RESULTING FROM SUCH OPERATIONS FROM THE HYDROCARBON UNDER CONDITIONS PREVENTING ACCESS OF AIR AND MOISTURE THERETO, FORMING A SLURRY OF THE FILTERED SOLIDS IN A LIQUID MEDIUM, INTRODUCING AN ACETYLENIC HYDROCARBON INTO THE RESULTING SLURRY AND SATURATING THE SLURRY THEREWITH, THEREAFTER INTRODUCING ONE OF THE COMPOUNDS OF SAID GROUP INTO THE SLURRY WHILE MAINTAINING A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 13* TO 15* C. TO EFFECT THE DESIRED REACTION, AND THEREAFTER HYDROLYZING THE REACTION PRODUCT TO PRODUCE THE ACETYLENIC PRODUCT.