Abstract: Essentially monounsaturated polyalkylenes having from 30 to 700 carbon atoms are continuously hydroformylated by a process in which i) a hydroformylation-active cobalt carbonyl catalyst is prepared from a catalyst precursor dissolved in an aqueous phase in the absence of the polyalkylenes, ii) the polyalkylenes are hydroformylated by means of synthesis gas in the presence of the cobalt carbonyl catalyst in a reaction zone, iii) the cobalt carbonyl catalyst is separated from the output from the reaction zone with at least partial reformation of the catalyst precursor and the catalyst precursor is recirculated to step i).

Abstract: A process for the hydroformylation of olefins having from 20 to 400 carbon atoms by reaction of the olefins with synthesis gas in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl catalyst and recovery of the cobalt catalyst by extraction of the reaction product with an aqueous acidic solution in the presence of oxygen and separation of the organic and aqueous phases, wherein (a) the aqueous phase is separated from the organic phase by means of gravitational forces to the extent that the proportion of aqueous phase dispersed in the organic phase is 2% by weight or less, based on the organic phase, and (b) the organic phase obtained in step (a) is exposed to an electric field to coalesce the remaining dispersed aqueous phase, is described. In this way, the residual cobalt content of the hydroformylation product can be reduced to less than 1 ppm.

Abstract: Olefins having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms are hydroformylated by means of a continuous process in which a) an aqueous cobalt(II) salt solution is brought into intimate contact with hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form a hydroformylation-active cobalt catalyst, and the aqueous phase comprising the cobalt catalyst is brought into intimate contact with the olefins and, if desired, an organic solvent and also hydrogen and carbon monoxide in at least one reaction zone where the cobalt catalyst is extracted into the organic phase and the olefins are hydroformylated, b) the output from the reaction zone is treated with oxygen in the presence of acidic aqueous cobalt(II) salt solution, with the cobalt catalyst being decomposed to form cobalt(II) salts and these being backextracted into the aqueous phase; and the phases are subsequently separated, c) the aqueous cobalt(II) salt solution is recirculated in unchanged form to step a), wherein the cobalt(II) salt solution has a concentration of from 1.1 to 1.

Abstract: Essentially monounsaturated polyalkylenes having from 30 to 700 carbon atoms are continuously hydroformylated by a process in which i) a hydroformylation-active cobalt carbonyl catalyst is prepared from a catalyst precursor dissolved in an aqueous phase in the absence of the polyalkylenes, ii) the polyalkylenes are hydroformylated by means of synthesis gas in the presence of the cobalt carbonyl catalyst in a reaction zone, iii) the cobalt carbonyl catalyst is separated from the output from the reaction zone with at least partial reformation of the catalyst precursor and the catalyst precursor is recirculated to step i).

Abstract: A process for the hydroformylation of olefins having from 20 to 400 carbon atoms by reaction of the olefins with synthesis gas in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl catalyst and recovery of the cobalt catalyst by extraction of the reaction product with an aqueous acidic solution in the presence of oxygen and separation of the organic and aqueous phases, wherein (a) the aqueous phase is separated from the organic phase by means of gravitational forces to the extent that the proportion of aqueous phase dispersed in the organic phase is 2% by weight or less, based on the organic phase, and (b) the organic phase obtained in step (a) is exposed to an electric field to coalesce the remaining dispersed aqueous phase, is described.

Abstract: In a process for preparing aldehydes and/or alcohols having from 6 to 30 carbon atoms by hydroformylation of olefins by means of synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst at from 120° C. to 210° C. and pressures of from 100 to 400 bar, a reaction mixture comprising olefins, synthesis gas and catalyst or catalyst precursor is, according to the present invention, introduced at high velocity into a high-pressure reactor via a nozzle having an adjustable flow cross section.

Abstract: In a process for preparing aldehydes and/or alcohols having from 6 to 30 carbon atoms by hydroformylation of olefins by means of synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst at from 120° C. to 210° C. and pressures of from 100 to 400 bar, a reaction mixture comprising olefins, synthesis gas and catalyst or catalyst precursor is, according to the present invention, introduced at high velocity into a high-pressure reactor (10) via a nozzle (16) having an adjustable flow cross section.

Abstract: In a process for the hydroformylation of olefins having from 12 to 100 carbon atoms in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl catalyst at pressures of from 100 to 400 bar and at from 100 to 200° C., depressurization and recovery of the cobalt catalyst by extraction with an aqueous acid solution in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, (a) the extraction is carried out in the presence of a polymeric emulsion breaker selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated compounds containing amino, imino or OH groups, and (b) to achieve complete phase separation in the organic phase still containing small amounts of aqueous phase, the formation of relatively large droplets of the dispersed aqueous phase is effected in a coalescence stage.