GB702196A - Improvements in or relating to the production of oxygenated organic compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

Steps in the recovery of oxygenated organic compounds made from olefines, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and water or alcohols comprise treating the product from the reaction zone for the separation of all or part of the gaseous constituents, thereafter maintaining the remainder of the product, containing volatile cobalt compounds, at a pressure of 100-500 p.s.i. and at a temperature above 125 DEG C. in a catalyst recovery zone in the absence of added hydrogen, until a major proportion of the volatile cobalt compounds is decomposed to yield cobalt in a solid form. Preferably the catalyst recovery zone is at 150-250 DEG C. The process is particularly useful when lower olefines are being treated. Separation may be effected by a reduction in pressure, e.g. from a reaction pressure of 3,000 p.s.i. to 150-500 p.s.i., the liquid products then being treated at the same pressure and at 175-225 DEG C. for 0.5-15 mins. The process is of particular value when volatile cobalt catalysts, e.g. dicobalt octacarbonyl and/or cobalt tetracarbonyl hydride, are used and has particular application in the conversion of propylene to butyraldehydes. The cobalt may be deposited on a porous support, generally in amounts of not greater than 25 per cent., and used for producing fresh catalyst. Alumina and bauxite are particularly useful supports. Without a support the cobalt is recovered as a liquid suspension. Vessels may be used alternatively for catalyst recovery and catalyst production. An illustration is provided of the production of n and iso-butyraldehyde from a propylenepropane mixture and in examples (1) cobalt is recovered on pumice from a butyraldehyde feed in xylene, (2) cobalt is recovered on silica gel from a butyraldehyde feed and the effect of varying conditions on the amount obtained illustrated in both cases, (3) similar results are given using a nonaldehyde feed and activated alumina, (4) shows the beneficial effect of high liquid feed rates on cobalt recovery from butyraldehyde feeds, activated alumina being used, (5) bauxite is used in recovery of both cobalt and iron from butyraldehyde feeds, (6), (7) and (8) shows the regeneration of cobalt catalyst from pumice, activated alumina and Indian bauxite respectively, and in (9) full reaction conditions are given for the production of n- and iso-butyraldehydes from propylene-propane mixture. Specifications 702,192, 702,195, 702,197, 702,201, 702,203, 702,204, 702,222 and 702,242 are referred to.