Method for obtaining alcohols from aldehydes III

A method for preparing saturated Cn- and C2n-alcohols where n=4, 5 and 6 comprising the method steps of

• a) providing a mixture of isomeric Cn-aldehydes where n=4, 5 and 6, wherein the proportion of unbranched aldehydes is at least 20% by weight, based on the Cn-aldehydes provided where n=4, 5 and 6,
• b) carrying out a distillation for the at least partial separation of the isomeric Cn aldehydes where n=4, 5 and 6 into a first stream having a higher proportion of linear aldehydes than the mixture provided in a) and into a second stream having a higher proportion of branched aldehydes than the mixture provided in a)
• c) carrying out an aldol condensation of the aldehydes present in the first stream having a higher proportion of linear aldehydes than the mixture provided in a) to obtain a mixture of Cn- and α,β-unsaturated C2n-aldehydes
• d) mixing the mixture of Cn- and α,β-unsaturated C2n-aldehydes obtained in c) with the second stream, provided in b), having a higher proportion of branched Cn aldehydes where n=4, 5 and 6 than the mixture provided in a)
• e) hydrogenating the mixture of Cn- and α,β-unsaturated C2n-aldehydes and Cn-aldehydes where n=4, 5 and 6 obtained in d) with hydrogen to obtain a mixture of saturated Cn and C2n-alcohols and
• f) separating the mixture of Cn and C2n-alcohols.