China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation
Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to isobutanol

Abstract:

An improved isobutanol synthesis process is provided which proceeds through the formation of mixed alcohols from syngas. The two-step process avoids the slowest .alpha.-carbon addition reaction in the conventional one-step, direct isobutanol synthesis process. Once ethanol and propanol are produced in the first reaction zone, they can react with methanol and/or syngas in a second reaction zone to produce isobutanol through the fast .beta.-carbon addition reaction in the presence of catalysts, resulting on significantly improved isobutanol productivity.