Olefin hydration process

摘要

This invention relats to a continuous process for the hydration of olefins with water in the vapour phase to the corresponding alcohol in the presence of a heteropolyacid salt as catalyst said process including the recycle of un-reacted olefin back to the hydration reaction characterised in that the heteropolyacid salt is a metal salt of silicotungstic acid or phosphotungstic acid which is soluble in a polar solvent below 40 DEG C wherein the metal in the salt is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal.