Plasticiser Alcohol and Production Improvement

Oxo-alcohols in the plasticiser range typically contain small amounts of methyl esters having the same alkyl chain as the alcohol itself. These methyl esters are causing product quality problems and environmental problems because of transesterification in the esterification process where the plasticiser ester derivatives are produced. A process using controlled oxonation and hydrogenation conditions is disclosed for the production of alcohols containing low amounts of methyl esters. Plasticiser esters with low amounts of aliphatic di-alkyl esters are also disclosed.