Process for recovery of rhodium values and triphenylphosphine from rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation medium

摘要

A hydroformylation process is disclosed utilizing a rhodium complex catalyst and an excess of a triorganophosphine wherein active rhodium catalyst and triorganophosphine can be separated from inactive rhodium, "heavies" and triorganophosphine oxide in partially deactivated reaction medium by extraction into concentrated phosphoric acid or aqueous solutions containing at least 40% by weight phosphoric acid. By neutralization of the phosphoric acid extract in the presence of organic solvent, e.g. aldehyde trimers, a solution of active rhodium catalyst and triorganophosphine can be produced that is suitable for re-use in the hydroformylation reaction.