Abstract

n-Propyl alcohol (1-propanol) is used primarily as a specialty solvent for printing inks or as a chemical intermediate. The predominant derivatives of n-propyl alcohol are the acetate ester and n-propylamines. The latter are used in herbicide production. Smaller-volume uses of n-propyl alcohol are as a flavor or fragrance in foods and as feed additive. 1-Propanol is manufactured in most of the Western world by hydroformylation of ethylene followed by hydrogenation of propanal. The hydroformylation or oxo process is catalyst-driven. This process is described. In South Africa, 1-propanol is also produced from coal through Fischer-Tropsch processes.