Hydration of olefins

Overview

Read this article from a comprehensive knowledge base, updated and supplemented with articles reviewed by scientific committees.

Read the article

AUTHOR

Bernard TORCK: Engineer from the École des hautes études industrielles de Lille and the École nationale Òsupérieure du pétrole et des moteurs - Doctoral engineer at the University of Paris - Expert, Strategy-Economy-Program Department, IFP (Institut Français du Pétrole)

INTRODUCTION

The hydration of olefins (or alkenes) is used industrially to obtain alcohols by adding water to the double bond of olefins. While the first industrial units were mainly concerned with the reverse reaction of dehydration of alcohols, obtained by fermentation, into olefins, the installation of steam crackers producing large quantities of olefins with 2 to 4 carbon atoms helped to gradually promote the production of alcohols by hydration.

This article deals with the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of olefin hydration reactions, catalysts and reaction mechanisms. Industrial processes for obtaining 2-butanol, ethanol and 2-propanol are then described.

You do not have access to this resource.

Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!

You do not have access to this resource. Click here to request your free trial access!

Already subscribed? Log in!

Ongoing reading
Hydration of olefins

Thermodynamics of hydration