A process for the production of 2-alkylalkanol from an aldehyde is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: feeding aldehyde to a reactor (42) operated under condensation and dehydration conditions such that reaction occurs and an unsaturated aldehyde is produced; recovering a stream from the reactor (42) comprising the unsaturated aldehyde and feeding said stream to a first hydrogenation reactor (45) operated under conditions such that at least some of the unsaturated aldehyde is converted to 2-alkylalkanol; recovering the stream from the first hydrogenation reactor (45) comprising the 2-alkylalkanol, one or more of unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal and heavies; passing the stream recovered from the first hydrogenation reactor (45) to a first distillation zone (48) where at least some of the heavies are separated from the stream; recovering a stream from the first distillation zone (48) comprising the 2-alkylalkanol, one or more of unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal, said stream having a reduced heavies content when compared to the stream fed to the first distillation zone (48), and feeding said stream to a second hydrogenation reactor (51) operated under conditions such that at least one of the unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal are converted to 2-alkylalkanol; and recovering a stream from the second hydrogenation reactor (51) comprising an increased 2-alkylalkanol content compared to the stream fed to the second hydrogenation reactor (51).

A process for the production of 2-alkylalkanol from an aldehyde is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: feeding aldehyde to a reactor (42) operated under condensation and dehydration conditions such that reaction occurs and an unsaturated aldehyde is produced; recovering a stream from the reactor (42) comprising the unsaturated aldehyde and feeding said stream to a first hydrogenation reactor (45) operated under conditions such that at least some of the unsaturated aldehyde is converted to 2-alkylalkanol; recovering the stream from the first hydrogenation reactor (45) comprising the 2-alkylalkanol, one or more of unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal and heavies; passing the stream recovered from the first hydrogenation reactor (45) to a first distillation zone (48) where at least some of the heavies are separated from the stream; recovering a stream from the first distillation zone (48) comprising the 2-alkylalkanol, one or more of unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal, said stream having a reduced heavies content when compared to the stream fed to the first distillation zone (48), and feeding said stream to a second hydrogenation reactor (51) operated under conditions such that at least one of the unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal are converted to 2-alkylalkanol; and recovering a stream from the second hydrogenation reactor (51) comprising an increased 2-alkylalkanol content compared to the stream fed to the second hydrogenation reactor (51).

A process for the production of 2-alkylalkanol from an aldehyde is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: feeding aldehyde to a reactor (42) operated under condensation and dehydration conditions such that reaction occurs and an unsaturated aldehyde is produced; recovering a stream from the reactor (42) comprising the unsaturated aldehyde and feeding said stream to a first hydrogenation reactor (45) operated under conditions such that at least some of the unsaturated aldehyde is converted to 2-alkylalkanol; recovering the stream from the first hydrogenation reactor (45) comprising the 2-alkylalkanol, one or more of unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal and heavies; passing the stream recovered from the first hydrogenation reactor (45) to a first distillation zone (48) where at least some of the heavies are separated from the stream; recovering a stream from the first distillation zone (48) comprising the 2-alkylalkanol, one or more of unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal, said stream having a reduced heavies content when compared to the stream fed to the first distillation zone (48), and feeding said stream to a second hydrogenation reactor (51) operated under conditions such that at least one of the unreacted acrolein, alkylalkenol and alkylalkanal are converted to 2-alkylalkanol; and recovering a stream from the second hydrogenation reactor (51) comprising an increased 2-alkylalkanol content compared to the stream fed to the second hydrogenation reactor (51).

A method of synthesizing sodium formate. The method includes reacting acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and NaOH to form a raw reaction solution which includes pentaerythritol and sodium formate. The method also includes passing the raw reaction solution to an evaporator to reduce the water content of the raw reaction solution and remove any unreacted formaldehyde from the raw reaction solution to form a concentrated reaction solution and cooling the concentrated reaction solution to form pentaerythritol crystals in suspension while retaining sodium formate in solution. Further, the method includes filtering the cooled concentrated reaction solution to remove the pentaerythritol crystals and create a mother liquor comprising the sodium formate in solution and separating the sodium formate from the mother liquor.

A method of synthesizing sodium formate. The method includes reacting acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and NaOH to form a raw reaction solution which includes pentaerythritol and sodium formate. The method also includes passing the raw reaction solution to an evaporator to reduce the water content of the raw reaction solution and remove any unreacted formaldehyde from the raw reaction solution to form a concentrated reaction solution and cooling the concentrated reaction solution to form pentaerythritol crystals in suspension while retaining sodium formate in solution. Further, the method includes filtering the cooled concentrated reaction solution to remove the pentaerythritol crystals and create a mother liquor comprising the sodium formate in solution and separating the sodium formate from the mother liquor.

A method for producing a ,-unsaturated alcohol of formula (2):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, provided that R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 may bond to each other to form a ring, through a reaction of an -olefin of formula (1) and formaldehyde under a heating condition:

##STR00002##

the method including a step of bringing the -olefin into contact with an aqueous formaldehyde solution in the presence of an alcohol having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, with the aqueous formaldehyde solution being subjected to preheating at 30 to 220 C. before the step.

A method for producing a ,-unsaturated alcohol of formula (2):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, provided that R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 may bond to each other to form a ring, through a reaction of an -olefin of formula (1) and formaldehyde under a heating condition:

##STR00002##

the method including a step of bringing the -olefin into contact with an aqueous formaldehyde solution in the presence of an alcohol having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, with the aqueous formaldehyde solution being subjected to preheating at 30 to 220 C. before the step.

A method for producing a ,-unsaturated alcohol of formula (2):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, provided that R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 may bond to each other to form a ring, through a reaction of an -olefin of formula (1) and formaldehyde under a heating condition:

##STR00002##

the method including a step of bringing the -olefin into contact with an aqueous formaldehyde solution in the presence of an alcohol having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, with the aqueous formaldehyde solution being subjected to preheating at 30 to 220 C. before the step.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an unsaturated alcohol, preferably 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal, by contacting an alkene, preferably isobutene, with formaldehyde in the presence a condensation catalyst comprising a zeolitic material comprising the framework structure of which comprises a tetravalent element Y other than Si.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an unsaturated alcohol, preferably 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal, by contacting an alkene, preferably isobutene, with formaldehyde in the presence a condensation catalyst comprising a zeolitic material comprising the framework structure of which comprises a tetravalent element Y other than Si.