Process for the preparation of a catalyst for the hydration of olefins to give alcohols

Abstract

A catalyst of a phosphoric acid treated carrier formed from clay minerals and silica gel for the hydration of a C.sub.2-3 olefin to an alcohol is prepared by acid treating an essentially montmorillonite-containing clay contaminated with not more than 3% of extraneous materials until an acid treated clay is obtained having a 10-20% by weight Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content and a specific surface area of 200 to 400 m.sup.2 /g, adding from 20 to 40 parts by weight of finely particulate silica gel having a particle size distribution of between 30 and 60.times.10.sup.-6 m, a pore volume of 0.9 to 1.7 ml/g and a specific surface are of 200 to 500 m.sup.2 /g and from 1.5 to 2.5 parts by weight of titanium dioxide, each based on total dry substance, to said acid treated clay, shaping the acid treated material to a total water content of 40 to 60% by compression, calcining the shaped material at 500.degree. to 900.degree. C., in a second stage, acid treating the calcined material with acid until it has an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content of 1 to 4% by weight and has a specific surface area of 180 to 250 m.sup.2 /g and a pore volume of between 0.8 to 1.5 ml/g, and impregnating the acid treated material with phosphoric acid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.