Catalytic dehydration of alcohols using non-volatile acid catalysts

A catalytic process for the conversion of an alcohol, an olefin, an aldehyde, a ketone or an ester comprising the steps of:

• continuously flowing through a reaction zone a liquid phase containing an alcohol, an olefin, an aldehyde, a ketone or an ester to contact a non-volatile acid catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure to at least partially convert the alcohol, olefin, or ester in the liquid phase to corresponding reaction products,
• wherein the reaction pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure and the reaction temperature is above the boiling point of at least one reaction product at reaction pressure, but below the critical temperature of the alcohol, olefin, aldehyde, ketone or ester, and the reaction product is substantially in the gaseous phase;
• and
• wherein the catalytic process is a hydrolysis of an olefin to an alcohol, an esterification, a transesterification, a polymerization, an aldol condensation or an ester hydrolysis;
• and
• separating said reaction product-containing gaseous phase from the liquid phase.