Abstract: The use of a controlled amount of water in a hydrogenation stage of the oxo process for the production of alcohols which uses at least two reactors in series improves the efficiency of the hydrogenation reaction and catalyst life as does a reduction in the amount of sulphur, chlorine and hydroformylation catalyst residues in the feed to hydrogenation.

Abstract: In the process of hydrogenating a crude aldehyde product formed from the oxo process into a crude alcohol product, which process includes: feeding the crude aldehyde product into a first reactor which contains a hydrogenation catalyst, thereby forming a first hydrogenated product; feeding the first hydrogenated product from the first reactor through at least one intermediate reactor, each intermediate reactor being connected in series and containing a hydrogenation catalyst, thereby forming at least one intermediate hydrogenated product; and feeding the intermediate hydrogenated product from a last intermediate reactor to a final reactor which contains a hydrogenation catalyst, thereby forming the crude alcohol product; the improvement including a step wherein: at least a portion of the first hydrogenated product is recycled to the first hydrogenation reactor; or at least a portion of the intermediate hydrogenated product is recycled to the first hydrogenation reactor or an intermediate reactor upstream of th

Abstract: A process for recovering phthalic anhydride as a liquid from a vapor phase oxidation product which comprises mixing the vapor phase oxidation product having a temperature of about 130.degree. C. or greater with a first stream comprising a solvent having a boiling point in the range between about 150.degree. to 350.degree. C. and a freezing point of less than 40.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for forming acids from aldehydes which comprises reacting an oxo aldehyde with water in the presence of an acid-forming catalyst and in the absence of hydrogen, and at a pressure of about 0.1 to 6.99 MPa and a temperature of about 93.degree. to 205.degree. C., thereby converting aldehyde to an oxo acid.

Abstract: The hydrogenation steps and hydrofinishing steps of the cobalt catalyst oxo process for preparation of the alcohols by the hydroformylation of olefin are carried out using a catalyst containing Ni/Mo on alumina or silica alumina prepared by depositing an organic acid solution of Ni and Mo salts on the support, the acid being phosphorous free.