Methods for increasing hydroformylation catalyst preforming rates

A method comprising:

• contacting an olefinic feed with syngas and a hydroformylation catalyst comprising a Group 9 transition metal under conditions effective to form a hydroformylation reaction product;
• treating the hydroformylation reaction product with an aqueous carboxylic acid under oxidizing conditions to form a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution having a pH of about 4 or less;
• combining a partially spent caustic aqueous solution with the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate;
• combining fresh caustic aqueous solution with the combined aqueous mixture after combining the partially spent caustic aqueous solution therewith, the pH of the combined aqueous mixture being at least about 7.5 after combining the fresh caustic aqueous solution;
• extracting a Group 9 transition metal carboxylate from the combined aqueous mixture into an organic phase;
• and
• providing the organic phase to the conditions effective to form the hydroformylation reaction product.

A method comprising:

• forming a reduced reaction product through reduction of a hydroformylation reaction product;
• conveying a gas stream through the reduced reaction product at a rate sufficient to remove at least some carbon dioxide therefrom, thereby forming a stripped reduced reaction product;
• contacting the stripped reduced reaction product with fresh caustic aqueous solution to form a partially spent caustic aqueous solution;
• contacting the partially spent caustic aqueous solution with a deactivated catalyst aqueous solution to form a combined aqueous mixture having a pH sufficiently acidic to decompose carbonate, the deactivated catalyst aqueous solution comprising a Group 9 transition metal, having a pH of about 4 or less, and being obtained from a hydroformylation reaction;
• combining fresh caustic aqueous solution with the combined aqueous mixture after combining the partially spent caustic aqueous solution therewith, the pH of the combined aqueous mixture being at least about 7.5 after combining the fresh caustic aqueous solution;
• extracting a Group 9 carboxylate from the combined aqueous mixture into an organic phase;
• and
• exposing the organic phase to hydroformylation reaction conditions.