Process for the catalytic hydration of olefins

Abstract From the Canadian patent

18-, A process is disclosed for converting light olefin(s) to alcohol(s), ether(s) or a mixture of alcohol(s) and ether(s) which comprises contacting a feed containing at least one light olefin with water in the vapour and/or liquid phase under olefin hydration conditions in the presence of a large pore zeolite as catalyst to produce said alcohol(s), ether(s) or mixture thereof. The process is especially applicable to the hydration of a propylene-containing feed for example, a, refinery FCC stream containing a substantial amount of propylene, to provide a mixture of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and diisopropyl ether (DIPE) which is particularly useful as an octane improver for gasoline.