Electrolytic process for treating sulfuric acid streams

摘要

An improved process is provided for treating spent sulfuric acid streams formed in the catalytic hydration of olefins to prepare alcohols, wherein the spent acid stream containing organo-sulfonic acid impurities is treated in an electrolysis zone under conditions sufficient to electrolytically oxidize at least a portion of said organo-sulfonic acid impurities to form partially oxidized organic compounds therefrom and thereby provide a treated sulfuric acid stream of increased thermal stability. The improved process permits continuous operation at levels of total organic carbon in the treated acid which would otherwise be unacceptable and minimizes the substantial operating problems associated with formation of heavy carbon deposits in the process equipment.