Patent ID: 6720457
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the hydroformylation of an olefin, comprising:reacting said olefin or a mixture of olefins in the presence of an unmodified cobalt catalyst in a single-stage process in a reactor at a temperature ranging from 100Â° C. to 220Â° C. and a pressure ranging from 100 bar to 400 bar, to obtain an aldehyde, an alcohol or a mixture thereof; wherein an aqueous bottom phase and an organic phase are present in said reactor; wherein the aqueous bottom phase is mixed with the organic phase; wherein the concentration of said cobalt catalyst, calculated as metallic cobalt, in said aqueous bottom phase is in the range from 0.4 to 1.7% by weight based on the total weight of said aqueous bottom phase; and wherein the level of the aqueous bottom phase in said reactor is kept constant during steady-state operation.