Abstract: The gas cycle in a high pressure hydroformylation reaction using a series of at least two reactors is controlled to optimise yield, conversion and selectivity and to control reaction temperature. The control is achieved through balancing fresh gases and recycle gases in each of the reactors and as an optional feature the use of hydrogen off gases from the downstream hydrogenation used in the conversion of the hydroformylation reaction product to product alcohols.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for designing, operating, monitoring and/or diagnosing a chemical reaction, particularly a hydrotreating process, using a fixed bed catalytic reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analytical technique for the quantitative determination of an analyte and a reagent solution useful in said quantitative determination. The analytical technique is conveniently adapted for quantitative determination of carbonyl and even more particularly adapted for finishing an alcohol produced in the Oxo Process.

Abstract: The Oxo Process that recycles its cobalt primarily as cobalt salt is improved by concentration of the cobalt salt solution from the demetalling section and the addition of a separation step for organic acid and water. This allows for a higher reuse of acid in the process and thus a lower amount of acid in the waste water. Injecting a higher concentration of cobalt salt solution to the reaction section also reduces the requirement for cobalt source.

Abstract: The Cobalt Flash Process is modified by replacing formic acid with acetic acid as process acid. Efficiency using acetic acid as process acid is achieved by two improvements which may be added separately and independently: (1) separation of acetic acid and water from the condensate distilled off in the cobalt salt concentration stage; and (2) removal of formic acid from the system by reaction with the product alcohol in the preformer.