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 1478.    HAENSEL, V. AND JONES, J. P.  I. G. Farbenindustrie A.-G. Works at Leuna.  XIV.  Oxo Process.  CIOS Rept. XXXII-107, 1945, pp. 87-92.  PB 6,650; Bureau of Mines Inf. Circ. 7370, 1946, pp. 87-92.

       Oxo process consists of the reaction of olefins with water gas in the presence of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to give aldehydes, which are hydrogenated to alcohols in a subsequent step.  The raw materials processed at Leuna were Kogasin and yellow oil, an olefinic byproduct of the higher alcohols process.  The chemistry of the process is outlined and flow sheet is attached.  The catalyst has the approximate composition.  Co 30%, ThO₂ 2%, MgO 2%, kieselguhr 66%.  Process conditions and operating details are given.  An essential of any scheme for operating the Oxo process is that the synthesis gas rate in both the Oxo and hydrogenation stage must be sufficiently high to ensure efficient stirring and complete suspension of the catalyst.  A large excess of synthesis gas is not necessary.  Instead of 220-240 atm. pressure, the Oxo stage might be operated at 40-50 atm., but with a lower throughput and at a higher temperature than 150°.  1 of the difficulties sometimes encountered was that unless the conditions in the Oxo stage are carefully controlled, olefin polymerization takes place, and these polymers, after hydrogenation, are difficult to separate from the higher boiling alcohol products.  In addition to Kogasin and yellow oil, Leuna had investigated the treatment of cracked petroleum oil.  The crude product contained 16-17% of alcohols which may be separated from the hydrocarbons by forming boric esters.  Only about 60% of the olefins were converted, of which approximately 80% were recovered as alcohol.  See also abs. 1174.