| 摘要 |
This invention is concerned with a continuous process for improving the manufacture of alkanols containing 1 to 2 carbon atoms, especially ethylene glycol and methanol, or carboxylate derivatives thereof from the reaction of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, by a continuous homogeneous catalytic process using as the catalyst a solubilized ruthenium carbonyl compound and a rhodium carbonyl compound by maintaining the concentration of ethylene glycol or carboxylate derivatives thereof in the reaction medium at less than about 20 weight percent and the combined concentration of methanol, ethanol and ethylene glycol or carboxylate deviates thereof at less than about 50 weight percent. The continuous process is operated in such a manner that products are removed from the reactor so as to maintain the total concentration in the reaction medium at the desired concentrations such that the net effect is that the overall efficiency of the reaction to the production of ethylene glycol is more favorable. |
