Production of high molecular weight alcohols by improved oxo process

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING ALCOHOLS BY REACTING ALIPHATIC OLEFINS HAVING AT LEAST THREE CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE WITH A CARBON MONOXIDE-HYDROGEN GAS HAVING A MOL RATIO OF ABOUT 1:1 IN THE PRESENCE OF A COBALT CATALYST UNDER CONDITIONS FOR CONVERTING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION BUT NOT ALL OF THE OLEFINS INTO ALDEHYDES HAVING ONE MORE CARBON ATOM PER MOLECULE THAN THE OLEFINS AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONVERTING MOST OF SAID ALDEHYDES TO ALCOHOLS IN THE PRESENCE OF UNREACTED OLEFINS IN A LIQUID STREAM, THE IMPROVED METHOD OF OPERATION WHICH COMPRISES WASHING SAID STREAM WITH DILUTE SULFURIC ACID TO REMOVE CATALYST THEREFROM, EFFECTING SAID CONVERSION OF ALDEHYDRATES TO ALCOHOLS BY HYDROGENATION OF SAID ACID WASHED STREAM IN THE PRESENCE OF A SUPPORTED COBALT HYDROGENATION CATALYST AT A PRESSURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 500 TO 3000 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH AND A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 350* TO 550* F., REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON THE EFFLUENT STREAM FROM THE HYDROGENATION STEP AND INTRODUCING SAID STREAM AT REDUCED PRESSURE INTO A SEPARATION ZONE, RECYCLING LIQUID FROM THE BASE OF SAID SEPARATION ZONE TO THE HYDROGENATION STEP IN AN AMOUNT IN THE RANGE OF .4 TO 4 VOLUMES PER VOLUME OF INCOMING LIQUID CHARGED INTO TTHE HYDROGENATION STEP, COOLING FLUIDS WITHDRAWN FROM THE UPPER PART OF SAID SEPARATION ZONE, FURTHER REDUCING THE PRESSURE OF SAID FLUIDS, INTRODUCING SAID LAST NAMED FLUIDS INTO A SECOND SEPARATION ZONE, REMOVING GAS FROM LIQUID AT LOW TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE FROM SAID SECOND SEPARATION ZONE, REHEATING LIQUID FROM SAID SECOND SEPARATION ZONE AND FRACTIONATING SAID LIQUID TO REMOVE AN ALCOHOL FRACTION FROM HIGHER BOILING AND LOWER BOILING FRACTIONS, RESPECTIVELY.