2795.     ---------------.  [REICHL, E. H.]  Synthesis of Hydrocarbons and Chemicals From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen.  Isobutanol Synthesis.  U. S. Naval Tech. Mission in Europe Rept. 248-45, 1945, pp. 103-108; PB 22,841; TOM Reel 200.

        Isobutanol synthesis was a prewar I. G. Farbenindustrie development and was practiced for the production of isobutylene polymer (Oppanol) and isooctane.  The high-boiling fractions were useful for production of detergents and lubricants.  The isobutanol synthesis uses the same raw materials as the MeOH synthesis, virtually the same catalyst, and like pressures about 240 atm.  The catalyst in ZnO-Cr₂O₃-KOH (60:40:1 parts).  The temperature used is about 430°.  Compared with the MeOH synthesis, the output per catalyst volume is low since the main product MeOH is recycled to extinction; about 5-6 parts of MeOH are obtained for each part of isobutanol.  The higher alcohols and ketones make up about 15% of the total product.  An important part of the isoBuOH synthesis, which increases the yield of isoBuOH and utilizes one of the byproducts, is the reaction of isobutyron (diisopropyl ketone) with CH₂O to give 2 mol. of isoBuOH.  A detailed list of the compounds contained in the product is given to illustrate the complexity of the composition.  Separation of the products from the synthesis is by fractional distillation.