Process for the continuous production of lower aliphatic alcohols

摘要

A method is provided for the continuous production of saturated aliphatic alcohols having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms by hydrating the corresponding aliphatic olefin in the presence of a sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer catalyst having a specific surface area measured in the dry state employing the BET method of: (a) less than 1 m2/g if the water-wet resin is dried, and (b) greater than 1 m2/g if the water is displaced from the water-wet resin by a slightly polar or a nonpolar organic solvent and the so dewatered resin is dried.