Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Paul A Ellsworth

John Lyford, Iv

Ralph J Spohn

This invention relates to a process for dual demetalling of an oxo product contaminated with cobalt-containing catalyst residues and recovering catalytically active cobalt carbonyls which comprises treating the oxo product in a first zone with an aqueous solution of a cobalt salt of an organic or inorganic acid to extract cobalt carbonyl partially from the oxo product into the aqueous phase containing Co.sup.++ ions to form Co[Co(CO).sub.4 ].sub.2 therein and in a second zone substantially completing the demetalling of the thus treated oxo product by treatment with an aqueous organic or inorganic acid in the presence of air or oxygen to form a Co.sup.++ salt and using the resulting aqueous solution as feed to the first zone; subjecting the aqueous phase obtained from the first zone to preforming in a high pressure preformer under synthesis gas to convert any excess or residual Co.sup.++ salt contained in said aqueous phase to Co[Co(CO).sub.4 ].sub.2 and extracting cobalt carbonyls from the aqueous phase with an organic solvent, the organic solvent extract being recycled to the oxo reactors as catalyst.

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Sandwich, MA, United States of America

Paul A Ellsworth