PATENTS

      1470.  ------.  [I. G. FARBENINDUSTRIE, A. G.]  [Producing Oxygenated Compounds.]  German Patent Appl. I 73,818. OZ 13,835; filed Dec. 11, 1942 (Cl. 12 o-5.02).  FIAT Reel 169, frames 7,887-7,890: PB 25,613: TOM Reel 36. bag 3,454. items 17, 21, and 32, frames 906-910; Meyer Transl. PC-S-V, Oxo. vol. 1, chap. 26, 1948, p. 64.

            When CO and H₂ are added to olefinic compounds with double bonds in presence of Co catalysts for the purpose of producing oxygenated compounds, difficulty is experienced in the formation of metal carbonyls and their solution in the liquid products.  In the further hydrogenation of these liquid oxo-products to oxy-products, the carbonyl tend to break down, and the resulting CO interfaces with the hydrogenation.  Furthermore, the carbonyls are entrained in the hydrogenating gas thus wasting the catalyst and causing stoppage in the H₂ lines.  These difficulties are prevented in accordance with this present invention by passing the liquid material to be hydrogenated into the liquid-filled part of the converter about 1 m. below the point where, under the conversion conditions, the separation of gas and liquid takes place.  Example: 97 parts of a mixture of olefinic hydrocarbons, b. 200º-250º, and 3 parts of a Co catalyst activated with THO₂ and MgO and deposited on kieselguhr are mixed to form a slurry and are continuously treated at 150º and 220 atm. with H₂.  The liquid slurry coming from the converter contains 0.2% Co in the form of dissolved carbonyl.  It is passed continuously, countercurrent to the H₂, into a vertical converter (described in German Patent Appl. I 73,072. abs. 1474) of 200 mm. diameter and 8 m. tall. 1 m. below the liquid surface maintained at 7-m. level, at 185º and 200 atm.  The gas leaving the converter contains no Co carbonyl.