Synthesis of oxygenated organic compounds

Claim 1

IN A CONTINUOUS CARBONLATION PROCESS WHEREIN CARBON COMPOUNDS CONTAINING OLEFINIC DOUBLE BONDS ARE CONTACTED IN AN INITIAL REACTION ZONE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF COBALT CATALYST UNDER CONDITIONS TO PRODUCE REACTION PRODUCTS COMPRISING OXYGENATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ONE MORE CARBON ATOM THAN SAID CARBON COMPOUNDS, WHICH REACTION CONDITIONS COMPRISE PRESSURES OF ABOUT 100 TO 300 ATMOSPHERES, AND WHEREIN COBALT COMPOUNDS INCLUDING COBALT CARBONLS ARE DISSOLVED IN SAID REACTION PRODUCTS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES PASSIG SAID REACTION PRODUCTS AND THE THEREIN DISSOLVED COBALT COMPOUNDS TO A CATALYST DECOMPOSITION ZONE, MAINTAINING CATALYST DECOMPOSITION CONDITIONS COMPRISING PRESSURES SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN IN SAID INITIAL REACTION ZONE AND JUST SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL VAPORIZATION OF LIQUID REACTION PRODUCTS AT DECOMPOSITION TEMPERATURES AND TEMPERATURES IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 200* TO ABOUT 400* F. WHEREBY A HIGH COBALT CARBONYL DECOMPOSITION RATE IS MAINTAINED AND SUBSTANTIAL VAPORIZATION OF LIQUID PREVENTED, AND REMOVING A LIQUID PRODUCT COMPRISING ALDEHYDES SUBSTANTIALLY FREE OF DISSOLVED CATALYST FROM SAID CATALYST DECOMPOSITION ZONE.