Process for separating cobalt component from hydroesterification reaction mixture

摘要

A cobalt component is separated from a hydroesterification reaction mixture obtained by reacting a polyhydric alcohol with an olefin and carbon monoxide in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl complex and a pyridine base, by contacting (a) pyridine or gamma -picoline and (b) water with said reaction mixture containing the cobalt component and the product of a fatty acid ester of the polyhydric alcohol to separate it into two phases consisting of a phase containing the fatty acid ester of polyhydric alcohol and a phase containing a cobalt component. In the process, the weight ratio of pyridine or gamma -picoline to the product ester is 0.5 to 5 and the weight ratio of water to pyridine or gamma -picoline is 0.05 to 10.