VEB SYNTHESEWERK SCHWARZHEIDE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: OXO-SYNTHESIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A007000840007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 29, 2008
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: June 15, 1955
• Content Type: CABLE

Approved For Release 2008/10/29: CIA-RDP80-00810A007000840007-8
ti1.po'JWI'"trt 1! a_FrC-P-w-T
CENTRAL L TEL -
COUNTRY list Germany
SUBJECT VEB Syntheaeweark 3chwarzhlide Research
and Developments Once-Synthesis
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
1. Among the 1954 projects carried out by the Research and Development 25X1
Department of VEB.Synthesewe"rk Schwarzheide, was a project on "Experi-
ments on a Small Technical Scale for Oxo-Synthesis". Its short desig-
nation was "Oxo-Synthesis". Its plan number was 013509b(F-4/02). It
was under the supervision of Chem. Eng. Menzel (fnu).
2. The following information on the project was given in the 1954 research and
development report of the Schwarzheide enterprise:
a. Aldehydes can be obtained through the addition of CO and H2 to olefines;
these aldehydes can subsequently be hydrogenated into alcohols. As
early as 1951 and 1952, successful laboratory experiments were carried
out in the Schwarzheide enterprise in which olefines of primary products
were transformed into primary alcohols. 25X1
b. During 1954, oxo-synthesis was again resumed because larger amounts of
olefines were produced through benzine synthesis-with iroa oontac S.
The main problem was to c arry out the oxo-prose is a a Linn :
synthesis was availab e. However, the enterprise was in possession of
an installation for/ o-synthesis. Throug}n the cooperation of VEB
Kombinat Otto Grotewohl, B?ehlen, the individual parts of the ,Also
installation could be converted into an'oxo -apparatus. This 4)(0-
apparatus was able to start op.erat4 in September 1954.
c. Up to September 1954, f experiments were carried out with
a 1.6-liter high-pressure aotec1e . These experiments aimed at
finding out the most favorable reaction conditions with various gas
compositions and various contacts. The following contacts were used:
the normal cobalt contact (1PO Co; 4.01 Th02; 8.64 MgO with kieselgu
as a carrier); newly developed iron contacts, as well as sebacic colt
and iron soaps. In particu the effect on the reaction of CO2 in
the synthesis and/or the mi~Xj.~ 4g~s was studied. Oxo reaction and
subsequent hydrogenation wi~-hSl '}W contents of 30 to 35% resulted in
prvdt+ets with k22 to 170
*'.a* a toruovr
Qwr,
CD NO.
DATE DISTR.
15 June 1955
NO. OF PAGES
2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(USTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
Approved For Release 2008/10/29: CIA-RDP80-00810A007000840007-8
 Approved For Release 2008/10/29: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000840007-8
ILLEGIB
of 65 to 70% of the olef#kee Hoed. The following alcohols could be
isolated: hecanol; oktarol, as well as small amounts of higher alcdio~s1
d. The. continuous high-pressure appp ratus works according to the irrigation
method (Rieselverfahren). Normal cobalt contact served as irrigation
surface. In the beginning only a benzine fraction C -C with 30% olefine
contents was used as olefine material. This was done in order todetermine
the most favorable reaction conditions for continuous operation. Cobalt was
continuously added in the form of sebacic cobalt solution in order to main-
tain the cobalt level of the contact. The synthesis gas used ias CO:H in 2 the ratio of 1s2; in addition, mixture gas (1:1) was used at Btessure of
150 to 180 atu. The temperature in the contact space was 150 to 160 C.
0.6 to 1 liter per hour of liquid product was processed. The c6rresnonding
figure for gas was 200 normal liters per hour.
e. The most favorable operational conditions so far determined were at the
pressure of 180 atu. Hereby 50% of the olefines used were transformed
in one step into aldehydes as well as into a small amount of alcohols*
f. The following difficulties were encountered in carrying out the project:
(1) The'high-pressure installation was not available until August 1954.
(2) Olefines were not pii in the amount foreseen.
(3) The CO pressure wash installation for the elimination of carbon
dioxid~ from the synthesis gas can not be put into operation until
1955? It is expected that synthesis gas with small CO2 contents
(COsH2 in the ratio of 1:2) will give better yields, as in the case
of mixture gas (GO,H2 in the ratio of 1:1).
Approved For Release 2008/10/29: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000840007-8
 Approved For Release 2008/10/29: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000840007-8
CLASSIFICATION. -~"
CENTRAL INTELCC AGENCY' REPORT
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNT' FA st Germny ,
:L)BJar. 'F
1- LACL
AC,QU7REC!
LATE 0t:
~AFO
V,Sxntlie ewerk Schwarsheide Research
and Devel:o;xnent: Oxo--9ynthesis
25X1
DATE DISTR. 15 June 455
NO.OF'PAGES- 2
NO. -OF ENCLS.
(LISTED 3ELOMM1
SUPPLEMENT TO 25X1
REPORT NO.
tN THL UNITED 4TATLEi. W11N1U TNt R1AR10e of UT1.1 10. UCTION1 PN$
AND "It. O8 TN1 U. 3. 4OR1. Al "MUD lit TRAIMr113lON 011 NIVEL-
ATwU os 41> C011TEni1 To ON *MOOT ST Wl YOAMINl *,n . Peuol
tt PNONIITY'10 9T LAV1 TNL NEPCMCUOR arms fORN K PNOMth'E0.
THIS IS UNEVALUA'T'ED -IN ORMATION
Among the :1954 proje.xs carried out .by-the Research and Development
` "'Experi-:
Department of VES Synthesewerk Schwaizheide, was a proje.c$'tmt
ments on a Small Technical Scale for 0xa'-Sjfthesic" Its Oort desig-
nation was "Oxo. Synthewie".? Its plan number was 013~5O9bf`F-It
was under the 'supervision . of Cheiao Eng, Menzel (fnu) .,
The following information on the project was given In the 1954 research and
development report of the Schwaraheide enterprise:
a Aldehydes can be obtained through the addition of CO and H to olefinea;
these aldehydes can subsequently be rydrogenated into alcogols. As
early as 1951 and 19529 successful laboratory (!experiments were carried
cut in th:: Schwarzheido enterprise in which olefines of primary products
were transformed into primary?alcohais
t, During 1954, oxo -synthesis was again re.:swned be~cause larger amounts cf
defines were produced through benzine aynthisis with iron contacts
The main problem ;ran to c arry out the oxo- prc cess in a continuous
Plans to import a high-pressure installation for this purpose 0 25X1
failed, so that no high-pressure installation for oxo-
synthesis -was avaz.lable. fowever, the enterprise was in possession cf
an installation for "so-synthesis, Throng' the cooperation of VED25X1
Eor:binat Otto Grotewoh i, Boehlen, the individual parts of the iso
installation could to converted into an oxo=apparatus. This exo-
apparatus was able to st:e.rt operation in September 1954,
Up to 5entember 1954, exeerime.its were carried out with
e, 1_6-liter ht gh -presslare autccl&ve? These experiments aimed at
f'zndinf- out the m--Is. favorable reaction conditions with various gas
compositions and various contacts. The following contacts were used:
the normal cobalt contact (100 Co; 4,01 Th02; 8.64 MgO with kieselgur
eu a carrier); newly developed iron. con-Cacts, as well as sebacic cobelt
r.nd ircn soo.VF:., ,_n particular, the eff#ct on the reaction of CO in
tie and/ar the :ixture gas w^:', studied- Oxo reaction End
yezogona ;ion with olefinvi cc, -llienta of 30 to 35% resulted in
t
ul~eecaa:re.a
.p-ro:iuc-s with 122 to J170 01!,6, '-Nhis corresponds to an average turautitea
-;vr'F rlavr X ra>kt:~___-_. 43-S Rt6> a'~tON ~,r_ -
Flil
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of 65 'to 70% bf the defines used. The follos,in ,' .~.co iols could.
isolated: hexarol; `oktanol, as well as small z !c,ir. is of 114jeter
and heptanol,
d. The continuous high-pressure appz.. ratus works accord _tng; +, -~ Ue irr"J ef- ti :L:
method (Rieselverfahren). Normal cobalt contact -~crved as irra.gation
surface. In th^ beginning only a benzine fra:t on C C with 3,0% o ,ef'i7 y
contents was used as olefine material. This was donedin order to de .t'rmii
the most favorable reaction conditions for continuous operation. Cvba', !',39.
continuously added in the form of sebacic cobalt solut-..on ire order to tain the cobalt level of the contact. The syntr.csis gas used w~3 M112
the ratio of 1:2; in addition, mixture gas (1.?1', ras used at pr?o~ssure
150 to 180 atu.. The temperature in the contact sr-ace v,as 150to 1(.G
0.6 to 1 )iter per hour of .iruid product was procesoec . The corre: won . .,
figure for-gas w44 200 ,pnrmal liters per hour..
e. The most favorable operational conditions so far, detuermined were at th+'
pressure of 130 atu. Hereby 50% of the olefiros used wore tran;,for:*~d
in one step into aldehydes as well as into a sraa1 . a'ount of a c;ohc: s?
+a ~, i .: is ~. + iM I
f. The followin, difficulties were encountered in carr;,r?r cut the projec,
(1) The high.=pressure installation was not avai able until August 195t
(2) Olefines were not provided in the am9unt foreseen,
(3) The CO pressure-wash installation for the elimination of awarbon
dioxidi from the` sync esjs cas can not be put into operation until
1955. It `is expected that synthesis as with stall CO content.,
(CO:H2 in the ratio )f 1:2) will give better yi.elds, as in the cace
of mixture gas (CO:HP in the ratio of l:1)
lICIr0RN'
Approved For Release 2008/10/29: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA007000840007-8