Synthesis of alcohol from olefins, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen

Claim 1

IN A CARBONYLATION PROCESS WHEREIN OLEFINS, CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN AND CONTACTED WITH A COBALT CATALYST AND UNDER CONDITIONS INCLUDING PRESSURES BELOW 45000 P.S.I.G. TO PRODUCE OXYGENATED REACTION PRODUCTS COMPRISING ORGANIC CARBONYL COMPOUNDS AND IN WHICH SAID ORGANIC CARBONYL COMPOUNDS ARE REDUCED TO ALCOHOLS IN A HYDROGENATION ZONE AND THE ALCOHOLS SUBSEQUENTLY DISTILLED, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES INCREASING THE OVERALL YIELD OF ALCOHOL BY SUBJECTING THE RESIDUE FROM THE ALCOHOL DISTILLATION PROCESS TO A HYDROLYSIS REACTION IN A NEUTRAL MEDIUM AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE ABOUT 300* F. AND HYDROGENATING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE PRODUCTS OF HYDROLYSIS.