Published November 1971
This report presents technology for short and long chain oxo alcohols produced from olefins, natural gas, and water. Three design cases are included. One case is based primarily on published Shell technology for producing long chain alcohols. The other two cases are based on Kuhlmann technology in which anionic transfer of the catalyst is used in the production of C7, C9, C11 alcohols.
PEP Report 21 (November 1966) contained oxo technology that stressed the C8 alcohols, and PEP Report 67 (August 1967) contained a design case for C12-C15 alcohols. The current report stresses technology published since the earlier reports and in addition describes the manufactures of the synthesis gas required for an oxo operation.
Also included in the current report is a brief section reviewing combinations of oxo and aldol processing. Technical information for the study was obtained primarily from patents and other publications. Although both Shelland Kuhlmann-based oxo plants exist, SRI does not know whether any part of its design cases corresponds to commercial operations.
