Abstract: Methods and systems of separating a hydrocarbon phase from a mixture comprising an emulsion of water and hydrocarbons in the presence of a surfactant, comprising adjusting the salinity of the mixture to release hydrocarbons and water from the emulsion into a hydrocarbon phase and a salt-containing aqueous phase respectively; and separating at least a part of the hydrocarbon phase from the salt-containing aqueous phase wherein at least a part of the salt-containing aqueous phase is recovered for further use.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process comprising reacting, in a reactor system comprising one or more feed streams, a reaction environment and an output stream, a feedstock composition comprising a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of an organophosphine modified cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation process is carried out in the reaction environment, which comprises at least two reaction zones, wherein the at least two reaction zones comprise an earlier reaction zone and a later reaction zone, wherein the temperature of the later reaction zone is at a temperature which is at least 2° C. greater than the temperature in the earlier reaction zone, and the temperature of the later reaction zone is in the range of from 140° C. to 220° C., and the temperature of the earlier reaction zone is at least 130° C., and wherein water is added into the reactor system.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an organophosphine ligand comprising a phosphabicyclohydrocarbyl group in which the phosphorus atom is further substituted with a hydrocarbyl or heterohydrocarbyl moiety containing at least one branch at the ?-carbon position. The present invention also provides a catalytic composition for the hydroformylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, said catalytic composition comprising i) a source of Group VIII metal cations; and ii) the above ligand. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a process for the hydroformylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, said process comprising contacting the ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence the above catalytic composition.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an organophosphine ligand comprising a phosphabicyclohydrocarbyl group in which the phosphorus atom is further substituted with a hydrocarbyl or heterohydrocarbyl moiety containing at least one branch at the ?-carbon position. The present invention also provides a catalytic composition for the hydroformylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, said catalytic composition comprising i) a source of Group VIII metal cations; and ii) the above ligand. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a process for the hydroformylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, said process comprising contacting the ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence the above catalytic composition.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process comprising reacting, in a reactor system comprising one or more feed streams, a reaction environment and an output stream, a feedstock composition comprising a compound having at least one olefinic carbon- to- carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of an organophosphine modified cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation process is carried out in the reaction environment, which comprises at least two reaction zones, wherein the at least two reaction zones comprise an earlier reaction zone and a later reaction zone, wherein the temperature of the later reaction zone is at a temperature which is at least 2° C. greater than the temperature in the earlier reaction zone, and the temperature of the later reaction zone is in the range of from 140° C. to 220° C., and the temperature of the earlier reaction zone is at least 130° C., and wherein water is added into the reactor system.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process comprising reacting a feedstock composition comprising a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of an organophosphine modified cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation process is carried out in at least two reaction zones, wherein the at least two reaction zones comprise an earlier reaction zone and a later reaction zone, wherein the temperature of the later reaction zone is at least about 2° C. greater than the temperature in the earlier reaction zone, and the temperature of the later reaction zone is in the range of from about 140° C. to about 220° C., and the temperature of the earlier reaction zone is at least about 130° C.

Abstract: A carbonylation process, wherein formaldehyde or a derivative thereof is reacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst composition including: a) an acidic compound with pKa value below −1, and b) a sulfone.

Abstract: A carbonylation process, wherein formaldehyde or a derivative thereof is reacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst composition including:

Abstract: A process for the hydroformylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system comprisinga) a source of platinum group metal cations;b) a source of non-halide anions;c) a source of at least one bidentate ligand of the formulaR.sup.1 R.sup.2 M.sup.1 RM.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 (I)wherein M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 independently represent a phosphorus, arsenic or antimony atom, R represents a bivalent bridging group containing from 1-4 atoms in the bridge, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent a bivalent substituted or unsubstituted cyclic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sup.1, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, or together represent a bivalent substituted or unsubstituted cyclic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sup.