Decatalization

• • The liquid product from the phase separator is sent to a packed bed unit where it is mixed along with steam at 180°C at a pressure of 20 atms.

• At this condition, Cobalt salt in the hydrocarbon liquid gets transferred to the porous carrier as cobalt oxide.

• For reuse, the cobalt oxide on the porous carrier is treated with acid to generate the cobalt naphthanate and this will be sent back to the hydroformylation reactor.

• The vapors generated from decatalization unit consist of the aldehyde products.

• These are sent to the hydrogenation unit next to convert aldehydes to alcohols.

Hydrogenation

• • The aldehyde product vapors are fed to a nickel catalytic bed reactor.

• Hydrogen is also fed to the reactor at about 150°C and 100 atms.

After reaction, butanols and other alcohols are sent to a separator network.

Separator network

• • The separator network consists of several fractionators in series.

• The fractionators in series produce light ends and heavy ends in addition to the desired product i.e., butanol.