用石油加工所得的烯烃为原料合成脂肪醇已经成为基本有机合成工业的重要組成。过去以农业原料生产乙醇、异丙醇等的发酵法,在某些国家中已大部分或全部被烯烃水合的方法所代替。美国1960年全部乙醇产量为88.9万吨,其中87％是用乙烯生产的;异丙醇产量为53.5万吨,100％是用丙烯生产。英国1960年合成乙醇的产量为6.95万吨,占全部乙醇产量的70％。苏联計划在七年計划完成后,全部工业用乙醇都用合成法制造。由此可見,烯烃的水合在工业上具有巨大的实际价值。烯烃的水合有两种方法:硫酸間接水合法及直接水合法。硫酸法的优点是要求烯烃浓度不高、反应温 The synthesis of fatty alcohols from olefins from petroleum processing has become an important component of the basic organic synthesis industry. In the past, fermentation methods for producing ethanol, isopropanol and the like from agricultural raw materials have been replaced, in most countries, by most or all of the olefins hydration processes. In 1960, the total ethanol production in the United States was 889,000 tons, 87% of which was made from ethylene; 535,000 tons of isopropanol and 100% from propylene. The production of ethanol in the United Kingdom in 1960 was 69,500 tons, accounting for 70% of the total ethanol production. After the plan of the seven-year plan is completed by the Soviet Union, all industrial ethanol is manufactured by synthesis. Thus, the hydration of olefins in the industry has great practical value. There are two ways to hydrate olefins: indirect hydration of sulfuric acid and direct hydration. The advantage of sulfuric acid method is the requirement of low olefin concentration, reaction temperature