Hydroformylation process

Abstract

The invention relates to a hydroformylation process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting one or more ethylenically unsaturated compound(s) in a reaction zone with carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas in the presence of a solvent and a homogeneous catalyst based on a Group 8, 9 or 10 metal, and a non-ionically charged phosphorus ligand to form a crude hydroformylation product; (b) allowing a major portion of the solvent, wherein a major portion of the catalyst is dissolved, to separate and be withdrawn from the crude hydroformylation product in a phase separation zone; (c) removing from the separated hydroformylation product emerging from step (b) substantially all remaining catalyst dissolved therein with a non-aqueous extractant in an extraction zone.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.