Hydroformylation in Microemulsions: Proof of Concept in a Miniplant

Abstract

The implementation of the hydroformylation reaction for the conversion of long-chain alkenes into aldehydes still remains challenging on an industrial scale. One possible approach to overcoming this challenge is to apply tunable systems employing surfactants. Therefore, a novel process concept for the hydroformylation of long-chain alkenes to aldehydes in microemulsions is being investigated and developed at Technische Universität Berlin, Germany. To test the applicability of this concept for the hydroformylation in microemulsions on a larger scale, a miniplant has been constructed and operated. This contribution presents the proof of concept for hydroformylation in microemulsions carried out during a 200 h miniplant operation. Throughout the operation a stable aldehyde yield of 21% and a catalyst loss in the product phase below 0.1 ppm were achieved, which confirms previous lab scale findings. Additionally, solution strategies for a stable continuous operation to overcome challenges such as foaming, phase separation issues, and coalescence dynamics are discussed herein.

Multiphasic aqueous hydroformylation of 1-alkenes with micelle-like polymer particles as phase transfer agents

“…These additives reduce the mass transfer limitation during reaction and are ideally recycled together with the catalyst. Surfactants [11][12][13][14] and cyclodextrins [15][16][17] have been used as phase transfer agents for multiphase hydroformylation reactions.…”

Rhodium-Catalyzed Aqueous Biphasic Olefin Hydroformylation Promoted by Amphiphilic Cyclodextrins

“…The formation of aggregates could be useful in the solubilization of larger olefins in water. Surfactants have been used to facilitate hydroformylation reactions between water-soluble catalysts and larger olefins [26][27][28][29][30]. In this report, we showed that various OS-CDs were efficient in promoting the hydroformylation of water-insoluble olefins such as 1-decene and 1-hexadecene.…”

Supramolecular Chemistry and Self-Organization: A Veritable Playground for Catalysis

“…Moreover, in the majority of cases, the catalyst recovery can be achieved by a simple phase separation followed by ultrafiltration. Recently, the possibility to transfer the hydroformylation of long-chain olefins in µems at an industrial scale has been studied in miniplants [112][113][114]. The results prove clearly that µems can be employed in realistic conditions to perform hydroformylation with easy phase separation ( Figure 30).…”