Process for the production of alcohols by catalytic hydration of olefins

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ALCOHOLS BY CATALYTIC HYDRATION OF OLEFINS IN GASEOUS PHASE WITH STEAM IN A METAL LINED REACTOR COMPOSED OF A METAL NORMALLY SUBJECT TO PHOSPHORIC ACID CORROSION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES CARRYING OUT THE REACTION IN SUCH REACTOR IN A REACTION ZONE DEFINED BY A LINING OF POROUS CARBON MATERIAL HAVING A THICKNESS BETWEEN ABOUT 10 AND 80 MM. AND A PORE VOLUME OF BETWEEN ABOUT 10 AND 70%, BY PASSING STEAM AND AN ALIPHATIC MONO-OLEFIN IN GASEOUS PHASE IN THE MOLECULAR RATIO OF BETWEEN ABOUT 0.4 AND 0.8:1 INTO CONTACT WITH A PHOSPHORIC ACID CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT 150 AND 320*C., AND A PRESSURE BETWEEN ABOUT 20 AND 80 ATMOSPHERES, AND RECOVERING THE ALCOHOLIC REACTION PRODUCT THEREBY FORMED, SAID CATALYST BEING DISPOSED ON AN INERT CARRIER MATERIAL BY IMPREGNATION THEREON.