Patent ID: 6482992
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the multistage hydroformylation of olefins to give alcohols and/or aldehydes, which comprises in each stage:a) hydroformylating olefins having a carbon atom content of 6 to 24 carbon atoms in the presence of a cobalt- or rhodium catalyst in a reactor to the point of conversion of olefin reactant to product of 20 to 98%; b) removing the catalyst from the resulting liquid discharged from the reactor; c) separating the resulting liquid hydroformylation mixture into a low-boiler fraction comprising olefins and paraffins, and a bottoms fraction comprising aldehydes and/or alcohols; and d) reacting the olefins present in the low-boiler fraction in subsequent process stages comprising steps a, b and c, and combining the bottoms fractions of process steps c) of all process stages.