Purification of 3-hydroxy-propanal

摘要

Cobalt or rhodium carbonyl compounds are removed from an aqueous solution of 3-hydroxypropanal by a process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the 3-hydroxypropanal solution with oxygen under acidic conditions at a temperature within the range of about 5 to about 45 DEG C. to produce an oxidation product mixture comprising an aqueous solution of 3-hydroxypropanal, one or more water-soluble cobalt or rhodium species, and byproduct carbon monoxide; (b) removing byproduct carbon monoxide from the oxidation product mixture as it is generated; and (c) passing the oxidation product mixture in contact with an acidic ion exchange resin maintained at a temperature less than about 45 DEG C. and removing at least a portion of the soluble metal compounds from the oxidation product mixture. Such a process is useful in, for example, the manufacture of 1,3-propanediol from ethylene oxide via an intermediate 3-hydroxypropanal solution containing residual carbon dioxide and insoluble cobalt or rhodium catalyst compounds.