Olefin hydration process

In a process for hydrating olefins to the corresponding alcohols by contacting the olefin and water vapor with a catalyst at elevated temperatures and pressures, the improvement which comprises employing as the catalyst, a preformed H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 impregnated, water vapor treated silica xerogel, wherein said xerogel has a particle size passing through 3 mesh and retained on 20 mesh, a bulk density of 0.38-0.48 g/cc, a pore volume of 0.80-2.2 ml/g, a BET surface area in the range of 200-500 m.sup.2 /g and the following chemical composition in terms of weight percent dry basis:

• SiO.sub.2 over 99%, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 0.01-0.03%;
• Na.sub.2 O 0.02-0.09%;
• and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 less than 0.4%, said xerogel having been contacted with water vapor at a temperature above 100.degree. C. and less than 200.degree. C., a relative humidity of about 30-100%, and a total pressure of 20-1500 psig.