Rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of long-chain alkenes in aqueous multiphase systems: Kinetic studies and systematic process development ; Rhodium-katalysierte Hydroformylierung langkettiger Alkene in wässrigen Mehrphasensystemen: Kinetische Untersuchungen und systematische Prozessentwicklung

In the course of the development of new sustainable industrial chemical processes the exploitation of switchable solvent systems is increasingly investigated in various fields. The application of highly efficient catalysts and safer solvents is mandatory to make a step towards a greener chemistry, as well as to find innovative ways to reduce waste from chemical reactions. Consequently, the use of water as solvent for chemical processes is a very promising approach. The focus of this thesis is the kinetic study of rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of long-chain alkenes in aqueous multiphase systems (microemulsion systems, surfactant-free multiphase emulsions, and Pickering emulsions) and the investigation of the applicability of these systems in a mixer-settler process. Based on the example of the hydroformylation of 1-dodecene in a microemulsion system, a step-by-step approach is presented on how to investigate these complex multiphase systems and to transfer the results of lab-scale experiments into a continuously operated process in miniplant scale. In addition, the hydroformylation of 1-dodecene is also investigated in surfactant-free multiphase emulsions and Pickering emulsions in a more fundamental approach. The goal for these two multiphase systems is to prove their applicability as reaction systems for organic transition metal-catalysed chemistry. The hydroformylation of 1-dodecene was successfully performed in all three investigated microemulsion systems with very high selectivity towards the desired linear product (n:iso selectivity of 98:2). In microemulsion systems, the catalyst recycling after the reaction could be easily conducted by simple phase separation, maintaining the activity and very high selectivity. In a second step, the results from the lab experiments were successfully transferred into miniplant scale. A 200 h long campaign in continuous operation could be performed, showing similar product yield and selectivity as on the lab-scale. In addition, a stable steady state operation was ...