Abstract: Olefins having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms are hydroformylated in a process in which (i) an olefin-containing feed in which a proportion of a saturated hydrocarbon having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms is present and also carbon monoxide and hydrogen are fed into a reaction zone and reacted in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, (ii) a stream consisting essentially of unreacted olefin and saturated hydrocarbon is separated off from the output from the reaction zone, (iii) the stream is separated into an olefin-enriched fraction and an olefin-depleted fraction by rectification, and (iv) at least part of the olefin-enriched fraction is recirculated to the reaction zone.

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: 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: In a process for the fractional distillation of a liquid crude aldehyde mixture including straight-chain and branched aldehydes, the product mixture is fractionated in a first distillation column to give a product stream of branched aldehyde, a product stream of straight-chain aldehyde and a further product stream including straight-chain aldehyde and the high boiling constituents. The further product stream is then fractionated in a second distillation column whose packing volume is a factor of from 50 to 200 smaller than that of the first distillation column to give a product stream of straight-chain aldehyde and a high boiler product stream.

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.