| abstract |
In a process for the hydroformylation of olefins having from 12 to 100 carbon atoms in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl catalyst at pressures of from 100 to 400 bar and at from 100 to 200° C., depressurization and recovery of the cobalt catalyst by extraction with an aqueous acid solution in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, n (a) the extraction is carried out in the presence of a polymeric emulsion breaker selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated compounds containing amino, imino or OH groups, and n (b) to achieve complete phase separation in the organic phase still containing small amounts of aqueous phase, the formation of relatively large droplets of the dispersed aqueous phase is effected in a coalescence stage. |