Abstract: Alkylene carbonates are removed from polyether-carbonate polymers by contacting the polyether-carbonate with an absorbent at a temperature of 30 to 150° C. The process is effective and inexpensive. The purified polyether-carbonate is useful for making polyurethanes as well as in many other applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing isoprene and mono-olefins comprising at least six carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing isoprene and mono-olefins comprising at least six carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes for the recovery of rhodium from a catalyst purge stream from a C6 or higher olefin hydroformylation process.

Abstract: A process for purifying a polyether polyol including treating the polyether polyol with a mixture of: (i) a sulfonic acid catalyst, wherein the catalyst includes a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of at least 6 carbon atoms, and (ii) water to reduce residual levels of acetal linkages present in the polyether polyol; a purified polyether polyol prepared using the above treatment process; and a polyurethane product prepared by reacting the above purified polyether polyol and an isocyanate.

Abstract: Alkylene carbonates are removed from polyether-carbonate polymers by contacting the polyether-carbonate with an absorbent at a temperature of 30 to 150° C. The process is effective and inexpensive. The purified polyether-carbonate is useful for making polyurethanes as well as in many other applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods to rejuvenate a deactivated hydroformylation catalyst solution wherein the solution comprises rhodium, polyphosphoramidite ligands, and polyphosphoramidite ligand degradation products. In some embodiments, such methods comprise adding a peroxide to the deactivated hydroformylation catalyst solution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating a hydroformylation catalyst solution wherein the solution comprises rhodium, polyphosphoramidite ligands, and polyphosphoramidite ligand degradation products and wherein the hydroformylation catalyst solution is used to hydroformylate an olefin in an operating hydroformylation unit. In some embodiments, such methods comprise contacting the catalyst solution with a peroxide in the operating hydroformylation unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to processes for purifying ligands such as organopolyphosphite ligands. In one embodiment, a process comprises: (a) receiving a solid organopolyphosphite compound that has been recrystallized or triturated at least once, wherein the solid organopolyphosphite compound comprises greater than one weight percent of an oxidized phosphite impurity and wherein the organopolyphosphite compound is substantially free of solvent; (b) slurrying the solid organopolyphosphite compound in a C2 or higher alcohol at a temperature of at least 60° C. for at least 20 minutes to reduce the oxidized phosphite impurity in the solid phase; and (c) removing liquid comprising dissolved oxidized phosphite impurity from the slurry, wherein the residual oxidized phosphite impurity content of the organopolyphosphite compound following step (c) is 1 weight percent or less.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods to rejuvenate a deactivated hydroformylation catalyst solution wherein the solution comprises rhodium, polyphosphoramidite ligands, and polyphosphoramidite ligand degradation products. In some embodiments, such methods comprise adding a peroxide to the deactivated hydroformylation catalyst solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydroformylation processes for producing aldehydes. In some embodiments, the process comprises contacting in a reaction zone reactants comprising an olefin, hydrogen and CO in the presence of a rhodium-organophosphite based catalyst, optionally with free organophosphite ligand, and 0.1 to 3 weight percent, based on the total weight of the fluid in the reaction zone, of certain polymers specified herein, such that the solubility of the polymer in the aldehyde is greater than or equal to 1 weight percent at 40° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydroformylation processes for producing aldehydes. In some embodiments, the process comprises contacting in a reaction zone reactants comprising an olefin, hydrogen and CO in the presence of a rhodium-organophosphite based catalyst, optionally with free organophosphite ligand, and 0.1 to 3 weight percent, based on the total weight of the fluid in the reaction zone, of certain polymers specified herein, such that the solubility of the polymer in the aldehyde is greater than or equal to 1 weight percent at 40° C.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention relate to processes to recover rhodium from a hydroformylation process. In some embodiments, the process to recover rhodium from the hydroformylation process comprises (a) treating a catalyst-containing stream from the hydroformylation process with 2.5 to 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of the stream, of a water-soluble organic amine of the following structure: wherein R32, R33, and R34 are each independently alkyls and ethoxylates, and wherein no more than one of R32, R33, and R34 is alkyl; (b) heating the resulting solution in the presence of syngas to a temperature of at least 65° C. to generate a rhodium-rich phase and a supernatant; and (c) removing the supernatant to recover the rhodium-rich phase.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention relate to processes to recover rhodium from a hydroformylation process. In some embodiments, the process to recover rhodium from the hydroformylation process comprises (a) treating a catalyst-containing stream from the hydroformylation process with 2.5 to 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of the stream, of a water-soluble organic amine of the following structure: wherein R32, R33, and R34 are each independently alkyls and ethoxylates, and wherein no more than one of R32, R33, and R34 is alkyl; (b) heating the resulting solution in the presence of syngas to a temperature of at least 65° C. to generate a rhodium-rich phase and a supernatant; and (c) removing the supernatant to recover the rhodium-rich phase.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to processes for purifying ligands such as organopolyphosphite ligands. In one embodiment, a process comprises: (a) receiving a solid organopolyphosphite compound that has been recrystallized or triturated at least once, wherein the solid organopolyphosphite compound comprises greater than one weight percent of an oxidized phosphite impurity and wherein the organopolyphosphite compound is substantially free of solvent; (b) slurrying the solid organopolyphosphite compound in a C2 or higher alcohol at a temperature of at least 60° C. for at least 20 minutes to reduce the oxidized phosphite impurity in the solid phase; and (c) removing liquid comprising dissolved oxidized phosphite impurity from the slurry, wherein the residual oxidized phosphite impurity content of the organopolyphosphite compound following step (c) is 1 weight percent or less.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating a hydroformylation catalyst solution wherein the solution comprises rhodium, polyphosphoramidite ligands, and polyphosphoramidite ligand degradation products and wherein the hydroformylation catalyst solution is used to hydroformylate an olefin in an operating hydroformylation unit. In some embodiments, such methods comprise contacting the catalyst solution with a peroxide in the operating hydroformylation unit.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process wherein the hydrolyzable organophosphorous ligand component of the catalyst is supplied as a stabilized ligand composition comprising a hydrolyzable organophosphorous ligand and, per 100 moles compound, from 0.05 to 13 acid-neutralizing equivalents of an acid scavenger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing organophosporous compositions having low acid content as well as processes for reprocessing partially degraded organophosporous compositions that contain high levels of phosphorous acid. In one embodiment, a process comprises: (a) receiving a solid organophosphite compound that has been recrystallized or triturated, wherein the solid organophosphite compound comprises phosphorous acid; (b) dissolving the solid organophosphite compound in a an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent in the absence of water and free amine, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent comprises an aromatic hydrocarbon, a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or a mixture thereof; and (c) removing undissolved phosphorous acid from the solution, wherein the acid content of the organophosphite following step (c) is 30 ppm or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing organophosporous compositions having low acid content as well as processes for reprocessing partially degraded organophosporous compositions that contain high levels of phosphorous acid. In one embodiment, a process comprises: (a) receiving a solid organophosphite compound that has been recrystallized or triturated, wherein the solid organophosphite compound comprises phosphorous acid; (b) dissolving the solid organophosphite compound in an organic solvent; (c) treating the solution with a weakly basic adsorbent; and (d) collecting the treated organophosphite solution, wherein the acid content of the organophosphite following step (d) is 30 ppm or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing organophosporous compositions having low acid content as well as processes for reprocessing partially degraded organophosporous compositions that contain high levels of phosphorous acid. In one embodiment, a process comprises: (a) receiving a solid organophosphite compound that has been recrystallized or triturated, wherein the solid organophosphite compound comprises phosphorous acid; (b) dissolving the solid organophosphite compound in an organic solvent; (c) treating the solution with a weakly basic adsorbent; and (d) collecting the treated organophosphite solution, wherein the acid content of the organophosphite following step (d) is 30 ppm or less.