Process for the production of ethanol and n-propanol from methanol

US4355192A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ruhrchemie Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Boy Cornils · Dinslaken, DE
• Carl D. Frohning · Wesel, DE
• Gerhard Diekhaus · Oberhausen, DE
• Ernst Wiebus · Oberhausen, DE
• Helmut Bahrmann · Hamminkeln, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 9, 1981
• Grant date: Oct 19, 1982
• Expiry date: Dec 9, 2001

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/52
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In a process for the production of ethanol and n-propanol by conversion of methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst containing cobalt, platinum, at least one halogen or halide, and an organic phosphine or phosphite, the improvement comprising the halogen or halide being chlorine or a chloride, and the phosphine or phosphite being bidentate. In addition, the conversion is carried out at pressures of 200 to 800 bars in the presence of 5 to 25% by weight of water, based on the methanol.