| abstract |
The invention is directed to a process for the production of aluminium alcoholates by reacting aluminium in comminuted form with an excess of an aliphatic C 3 to C 10 alcohol in which the aluminium is supplied to the reactor from above and is brought into contact with an aluminium alcoholate/alcohol mixture above a perforated plate or grid tray (screen) in the reactor. The aluminium, or preferably a suspension of alcohol and finely divided aluminium, is supplied to the reactor and fed from above to a bubble bed made of a mixture of aluminium alcoholate and alcohol in the area of the perforated plate, whereby the mixture of aluminium alcoholate and alcohol in the reactor sump or overflowing in part is recycled to the reactor over the bubble bed and optionally, preferably with the aluminium suspension, returned from above to the reactor and in part is isolated. There is also described a reactor suitable for carrying out the process. The reactor has a basket like perforated plate in a tray and inlet lines for maintaining a sufficient amount of liquid in the tray or the bubble bed above the perforated plate or grid tray. |