Rhodium recovery process

摘要

A particular process is provided for the recovery of rhodium values from liquid compositions. The process comprises contacting a solubilized rhodium complex with water, a crown ether and an alkaline cesium salt in the liquid phase such that a solid comprising rhodium is formed. The process is applied with particular advantage to the recovery of solubilized rhodium values derived from processes for the production of polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol, and monohydric alcohols such as methanol, by the reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of rhodium carbonyl complex catalysts in a homogeneous liquid medium. The invention also concerns cesium/crown ether salts of anionic rhodium complexes.