US 5,288,818 A · Method for separating a water soluble noble metal catalyst from a noble metal catalyzed hydroformylation reaction

Abstract

A method for separating a water soluble Group VIII noble metal catalyst from the crude reaction product of a noble metal-catalyzed hydroformylation reaction run in aqueous solution, in an aqueous emulsion or as an aqueous suspension, the crude reaction product including an aqueous phase containing a water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst, and an organic phase containing unreacted olefin feed and an organic hydroformylation reaction product, which comprises: (a) contacting the crude reaction product with a hydrophobic membrane capable of allowing a substantial portion of the unreacted olefin feed and the organic hydroformylation reaction product to pass therethrough while retaining a substantial portion of the water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst; (b) removing unreacted olefin feed and organic hydroformylation reaction product which passes through the hydrophobic membrane as permeate; and (c) retaining the water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst as retentate.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for separating a water soluble noble metal catalyst from a crude reaction product of a noble metal-catalyzed hydroformylation reaction run in aqueous solution, in an aqueous emulsion or as an aqueous suspension, said crude reaction product including an aqueous phase containing a water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst, and an organic phase containing unreacted olefin feed and an organic hydroformylation reaction product, which comprises:

(a) contacting said crude reaction product with a hydrophobic membrane capable of allowing a substantial portion of said unreacted olefin feed and organic hydroformylation reaction product to pass therethrough while retaining a substantial portion of said water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst, said hydrophobic membrane is selected from the group consisting of crosslinked bromobutyl rubber membranes and crosslinked copolymers of isobutylene and p-bromomethyl styrene membranes;
(b) removing unreacted olefin feed and said organic hydroformylation reaction product which passes through said hydrophobic membrane as permeate;
and (c) retaining said water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst as retentate, wherein said hydrophobic membrane retains at least about 99% of said water soluble group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst.

A method for producing higher aldehydes and higher alcohols which comprises:

(a) hydroformylating an olefinic feedstock with synthesis gas in the presence of water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst to form a crude reaction product comprised of an organic phase containing unreacted olefin feed and organic hydroformylation reaction product and an aqueous phase containing a water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst;
(b) removing said water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst from said crude reaction product by feeding said crude reaction product to a membrane separator which comprises a hydrophobic membrane capable of allowing a substantial portion of said hydroformylation reaction product and unreacted olefin feed to pass therethrough while retaining a substantial portion of said water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst, said hydrophobic membrane is selected from the group consisting of crosslinked bromobutyl rubber membranes and crosslinked copolymers of isobutylene and p-bromomethyl styrene membranes;
(c) recovering said hydroformylation reaction product and said unreacted olefin feed as permeate;
(d) retaining said water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst as retentate, wherein said hydrophobic membrane retains at least about 99% of said water soluble group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst;
and
(e). recycling the retained water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst to said hydroformylation step (a).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for separating a water soluble noble metal catalyst from a noble metal catalyzed hydroformylation reaction

Life of this patent

Method for separating a water soluble noble metal catalyst from a noble metal catalyzed hydroformylation reaction

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20