SELECTIVE EXTRACTION OF TRIPHENYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE FROM OXO-SYNTHESIS EFFLUENTS

摘要

A process for the selective extraction of triphenylphosphine oxide from the distillation tails of an oxo-process, carried out with rhodium carbonyl complexes and triphenylphosphine as a catalyst. The process of the invention is characterized in that a portion of the tails is treated with a solvent mixture composed of water and polar organic compounds selected from the group consisting of alcohols and ketones, at a temperature at least higher than the melting point of the tails, whereby a polar phase containing a substantial portion of triphenylphosphine oxide and another phase rich in triphenylphosphine and containing the rhodium complexes are formed.