Patent ID: 6727391
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for working up a liquid output from a continuous hydroformylation, which output comprises aldehydes, high-boiling by-products, a homogeneously dissolved hydroformylation catalyst, unreacted olefins, low-boiling by-products and dissolved synthesis gas, whereina) the liquid hydroformylation output is depressurized in a first depressurization stage to a pressure which is from 2 to 20 bar below the reactor pressure, resulting in separation into a liquid phase and a gas phase, and b) the liquid phase obtained in the first depressurization stage is depressurized in a second depressurization stage to a pressure which is lower than the pressure of the first depressurization stage, resulting in separation into a liquid phase comprising essentially high-boiling by-products of the hydroformylation, the homogeneously dissolved hydroformylation catalyst and small amounts of hydroformylation product and unreacted olefin and a gas phase comprising essentially the major part of the hydroformylation product, unreacted olefin and low-boiling by-products.