Process for reducing sulfur content of oxo alcohols

Claim 1

IN A CARBONYLATION PROCESS WHEREIN OLEFINS, CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN ARE CONTACTED IN AN INITIAL CARBONYLATION ZONE WITH A COBALT CARBONYLATION CATALYST UNDER CONDITIONS OF ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES TO PRODUCE AN ALDEHYDE COMPRISING REACTION PRODUCT, AND SAID ALDEHYDE PRODUCT IS FURTHER SUBJECTED TO A HYDROGENATION REACTION IN A HYDROGENATION ZONE IN THE PRESENCE OF A SULFACTIVE HYDROGENATION CATALYST TO PRODUCE AN IMPURE SULFUR CONTAMINATED ALCOHOL PRODUCT, THE IMPROVEMENT IF UPGRADING THE OFF-SPECIFICATION ALCOHOL PRODUCT, CONPRISES SEGREGATING SAID ALCOHOL PRODUCT, CONTINUING THE PASSAGE OF SAID ALDEHYDE PRODUCT TO SAID HYDROGENATION ZONE UNTIL THE SULFUR CONTENT OF THE HYDROGENATOR EFFLUENT REACHES A PREDETERMINED LOW VALUE, SAID VALUE BEING LOWER THAN THE SULFUR CONTENT OF SAID SEGREGATED ALCOHOL PRODUCT, THEREAFTER RECYCLING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SEGREGATED ALCOHOL PRODUCT TO SAID HYDROGENATION ZONE, ADMIXING SAID MATERIAL WITH ALDEHYDE PRODUCT, AND RECOVERING AN ALCOHOL PRODUCT CONTAINING NO MORE SULFUR THAN SAID PREDETERMINED VALUE.