Published November 1966
This report is concerned with processes for the manufacture of alcohols produced by the reaction of an olefin with carbon monoxide and hydrogen. These alcohols, which cover a broad range from Ch to Cls alcohols, are generally referred to in the literature as Oxo alcohols. Although a wide range of Oxo alcohols are available commercially, this evaluation was restricted to processes for the production of Q alcohols, isooctyl, and 2-ethylhexyl because they are produced in the largest volume. Isobutanol and n-butanol however are produced as by-products in 2-ethylhexanol plants. The processes evaluated could be used with minor modifications to produce other alcohols in the above range.
Only those processes that have present commercial significance or show future promise because of special technology were evaluated: these are a low pressure one-step process for isooctanol (Shell); an aldox process for 2-ethylhexanol (Esso); an oxo-aldol process for 2-ethylhexanol (Mitsubishi-BASF); and a low pressure two-step process for isooctanol (Esso-Kuhlmann).
