oa New Technology for Industrial Hydroformylation

New technology for the hydroformylation of olefins has been developed jointly by Union Carbide Corporation, Davy Powergas Limited and Johnson Matthey & Co. Limited. The process employs a novel rhodium-based homogeneous catalyst system at significantly lower pressures and temperatures than conventional cobalt-using processes, resulting in major savings in capital investment and operating costs. Another most important feature of the new process is that it provides much higher ratios of normal:iso aldehydes produced when propylene and other olefins are used as feedstocks than is possible with conventional processes. Several plants utilising the new system are now under construction.