Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous hydroformylation process for the production of an aldehyde by hydroformylation of an olefin which comprises: providing a hydroformylation zone containing a charge of a liquid reaction medium having dissolved therein a rhodium hydroformylation catalyst comprising rhodium in combination with carbon monoxide and a ligand; supplying the olefin to the hydroformylation zone; maintaining temperature and pressure conditions in the hydroformylation zone conducive to hydroformylation of the olefin; recovering from the liquid hydroformylation medium a hydroformylation product comprising aldehyde; recovering from the hydroformylation zone a stream comprising the rhodium catalyst; contacting at least a portion of the stream with a solid acidic absorbent under process conditions which allow at least some of the rhodium to become bound to the absorbent; subjecting the rhodium bound to the absorbent, under process conditions which allow desorption of the metal, to a fluid strippi

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous hydroformylation process for the production of an aldehyde by hydroformylation of an olefin which comprises: providing a hydroformylation zone containing a charge of a liquid reaction medium having dissolved therein a rhodium hydroformylation catalyst comprising rhodium in combination with carbon monoxide and a ligand; supplying the olefin to the hydroformylation zone; maintaining temperature and pressure conditions in the hydroformylation zone conducive to hydroformylation of the olefin; recovering from the liquid hydroformylation medium a hydroformylation product comprising aldehyde; recovering from the hydroformylation zone a stream comprising the rhodium catalyst; contacting at least a portion of the stream with a solid acidic absorbent under process conditions which allow at least some of the rhodium to become bound to the absorbent; subjecting the rhodium bound to the absorbent, under process conditions which allow desorption of the metal, to a fluid strippi

Abstract: Disclosed is a reactor and process for exothermic vapour phase reaction, wherein the reactor (1; 101) comprises a pressure vessel (2; 102) having an inlet (3;103) for reactant(s) and an outlet (4; 104) for products; a plurality of beds (5; 105) with heterogeneous catalyst, each bed supported by a catalyst support grating (6; 106); a vapour collection chamber (9; 109) and a vapour redistribution chamber (10; 110) between successive pair(s) of beds for redistribution of vapourous reaction mixture over the inlet of the next bed; a diaphragm (11; 111) separating the vapour collection chamber (9; 109) from the vapour redistribution chamber; at least one pair of nested trough members extending at least partially across the diaphragm, each comprising an inner trough member (14; 114) having one or more apertures (18; 118), an outer trough (20; 120) having one or more apertures (21; 121) and a quench gas conduit (15; 115) provided with apertures (17; 117); the apertures (18; 118; 21; 121; 17; 117) arranged to provide

Abstract: The invention proposes a process and waste treatment plant for regenerating alkali metal hydroxide (3) from an alkaline aqueous waste stream (5) that contains alkali metal C3+ carboxylate byproduct. The waste stream (5) is acidified and the resulting liquour (9) is fed to a first distillation zone (12) to distil carboxylic acid and water. Alternatively, it is fed to a settling zone (14) from which an upper organic layer (16) is recovered as well as a lower aqueous phase (17; 104) which is fed to the first distillation zone. The overhead product (20) from the first distillation zone is condensed and separated into a carboxylic acid layer which is either purged (28) or fed (101) to the settling zone (25). The lower layer (32) of the condensate is redistilled and the water bottoms stream (47) is fed to the cathode compartment (60) of an electrolytic cell (58), while the bottoms stream (52) from the first distillation zone is supplied to the anode compartment (59).

Abstract: A hydrotreatment process for effecting hydrotreatment of a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock containing a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons together with organic sulphurous impurities in which a desulphurised liquid first hydrocarbon fraction is contacted with a first stream of desulphurised recycle gas to produce (A) a vaporous mixture including unreacted hydrogen, hydrogen sulphide, and a second hydrocarbon fraction including relatively more volatile components of the mixture of hydrocarbons and (B) a third liquid hydrocarbon fraction including relatively less volatile components of the mixture of hydrocarbons as well as residual sulphurous impurities, the vaporous mixture and the third liquid hydrocarbon fraction being recovered as separate streams from the contact zone. The third liquid hydrocarbon fraction is contacted with a mixture of make-up hydrogen-containing gas and desulphurised recycle gas to cause hydrodesulphurisation of residual sulphurous impurities in the third liquid hydrocarbon fraction.

Abstract: An aldolisation process is disclosed for converting an aldehyde or mixture of aldehydes, such as iso-butyraldehyde and formaldehyde, to a desired polyhydroxy alcohol or glycol, such as neopentyl glycol. Aldolisation is effected in a stirred tank reactor using an alkali catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide. An aldolisation intermediate product is converted to the desired polyhydroxy alcohol or glycol by a hydrogenation or cross-Cannizzaro reaction step. The product is recovered and an aqueous catalyst-containing phase is recycled to the aldolisation zone. At least a portion of this catalyst recycle stream is purged to control the build up of cross-Cannizzaro products in the recycle stream. The purge stream is treated electrolytically to obtain an aqueous catalyst-containing solution for recycle to the aldolisation zone and an effluent stream comprising volatile organic materials and being substantially free from alkali catalyst.