Patent ID: 7081554
Filing Date: 2006-07-25
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for the hydroformylation of compounds having olefinic unsaturation using synthesis gas in the presence of a cobalt catalyst, including a demetalling step wherein essentially all the cobalt from the hydroformylation reaction is recovered as cobalt acetate and/or cobalt formate and the cobalt recycle process to hydroformylation does not include a step where the cobalt is transferred using a vapor stream carrier, the improvement comprising concentrating an aqueous stream comprising cobalt acetate and/or formate from the demetalling step in an evaporator under conditions sufficient to cause a stream of distillate comprising acetic and/or formic acid and water to distill overhead from the evaporator and withdrawing, as bottoms from the evaporator, a concentrated cobalt acetate and/or cobalt formate solution.