Title of Invention	A PROCESS FOR SEPARATING METAL COMPOUND FROM A MIXTURE"
Abstract	The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one metal compound and/or a component thereof from a mixture, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate comprising the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and the metal compound and/or a component thereof. The present invention further relates to a process for the purification of a mixture containing at least one metal compound, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate that is substantially insoluble in the said reaction mixture and recovering the reaction mixture (FIG. - Nil)

Title of Invention

A PROCESS FOR SEPARATING METAL COMPOUND FROM A MIXTURE"

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one metal compound and/or a component thereof from a mixture, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate comprising the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and the metal compound and/or a component thereof. The present invention further relates to a process for the purification of a mixture containing at least one metal compound, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate that is substantially insoluble in the said reaction mixture and recovering the reaction mixture (FIG. - Nil)

Full Text	Title: Metal removal The invention is directed to a process for the removal of metal compounds, such as a catalyst or catalyst remains from liquid reaction systems. More ir. particular the invention is. directed to the removal of metal compounds, such as a catalyst or catalyst remains, from homogeneously catalysed reaction systems. Metal compounds are applied in a variety of applications, e.g. as catalysts, colourants or pharmaceutically active compounds. Catalysts based upon metal complexes, generally comprise at least one metal compound that at least consists of at least one metal atom and/or at least one ligand, or at least one metal ion and/or at least one counter ion and /or at least one ligand. Such catalyst systems are very effective and selective catalysts in homogeneous catalyst systems for a broad range of reactions. However, it is often very difficult to remove the (homogeneous) catalyst or its remains from the reaction mixture after the reaction has been completed. Quite often (difficult extraction procedures, recrystallizations, membrane filtrations or distillation steps are necessary to remove the catalyst or its remains. Other methods describe a modification of homogeneous catalysts that simplifies separation from the reaction products. However, such a modification oi a homogeneous catalyst also changes its catalytic properties. Cataysts and/or its remains have to be removed from a process stream in order to obtain pure products. A simple and efficient method to purify process streams from catalysts and /or its remains is desirable, also from an economic and environmental point of view. US patent 4,413, 118 describes a process in which organic sulfur compounds containing a carbon-sulfur double bond are used to remove homogeneous catalyst group VIII metals from chemical process streams. US patent 4,855,4-00 describes the removal of catalyst residues from carbon monoxide/olefin polymers with a catalyst completing agent for palladium. US patent 4,952,304 describes the removal of a group VIII catalyst and co-catalyst by treating the contaminated product with an aqueous solution of a silicate, borate or carbonate. The catalyst residues are extracted in the aqueous layer. Fedotov et al. descnbe the use of membranes to separate a bulky homogeneous catalyst from the reaction mixture in Catalysis Letters 1990, 6, 417-422. US patent 6,303,829 and US patent 6,307,108 describe the use of fractional countercurrent extraction to remove metal-organophosphorus complexes from the reaction product fluid. US patent 4,429,057 describes the removal of volatile precious metal catalysts from a process stream by selective extraction in alcoholic liquids. US patent 4,950,629 describes the precipitation of homogeneous catalysts from a reaction solution solvent by reaction with lower alkanoic acid. US pater t 6,187,962 describes the separation of a homogeneous catalyst from a hydroformylation process stream by extraction methods. US patent 4,353,810 describes the removal of an iron oxidation catalyst by reaction of the iron catalyst with an iron oxidant material which will cause the precipitation of the iron catalyst. Many of the described processes have a lack of efficiency and only partly remove catalyst residues. Moreover, the additives that are used contaminate the product mixtures and are difficult to remove from the process stream. This makes the described methods unattractive from a process point of view. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process that does not have all the aforementioned disadvantages. The invention is based on the idea that certain compounds, in particular hei eropoly acids, have the property to bind very effectively and selectively with metal compounds i.e. compounds comprising at least one metal atom or ion such as homogeneous metal catalysts, thereby forming an insoluble precipitate. These heteropoly acids can also be attached to supports such as those based on various insoluble oxides and organic supports. Accordingly the present invention relates to a process for separating at least one metal compound and/or a component thereof from a mixture, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate comprising the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and the metal compound and/or the component thereof. It will be appreciated that in general the precipitate is substantially insoluble in the said, mixture (under the contacting conditions). Accordingly, it is possible to contact a mixture - generally at least comprising the metal compound - containing the metal compound(s), with a heteropoly acid or with a support material modified with a heteropcly acid, so that the metal compound and/or a component thereof can be removed from the mixture by separating the resulting solids from the mixture. This invention provides a tool to efficiently remove metal compounds, such as catalysts or catalyst remains from a liquid, e.g. a liquid process stream. The invention is particularly suitable to remove or recover a homogeneous metal compound or a component thereof dissolved in a liquid solution, from a liquid solution; further, the invention is particularly suitable to purify a solution containing a homogenous metal compound. The term homogeneous metal compound is used herein to describe a metal compound dissolved in a solvent, a metal compound present in a colloidal phase (hereinafter referred to as colloidal metal compound), a dispersed metal compound, a metal compound in an emulsion, a metal compound in a sol and in general to describe metal compounds that are present in a fluid system in a fashion that does not generally allow the metal and /or metal compound to be readily separated by filtration from the fluid. Components of metal compounds that can be separated include unbound metal moieties, ligands and counter ions. A mixture from which the metal compound and/or a component thereof is separated can be any fluid containing said metal compound and/or component thereof dissolved, suspended, dispersed or otherwise contained in ssid fluid. A process according to the invention may be used to achieve a partial or an essentially complete removal of metal compounds and/or components thereof such as catalysts or catalyst remains. Of course it is possible that several types of metal compounds and components are removed simultaneaously or subsequently in a process according to the invention. Very good results have been achieved with a method according to the invention wherein a compound comprising and ionic metal moiety is removed. It is stressed that the ionic metal moiety can either be anionic (e.g. Ru-) or cetionic. The present invention is not limited to the removal of catalysts and/or remains thereof. A process according to the invention may also be used to remote or purify other metal compounds, e.g. complexes used as colourants or metal chelates for pharmaceutical purposes. The invention may be employed to recover metal compounds or to purify products such as pharmaceuticals or foodstuffs, that may be contaminated with metal compounds, such as catalysts or remains thereof that have leached from a (supported) catalyst into the product. In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a process for the removal of at least one homogeneous metal compound (and/or a component thereof), preferably a dissolved metal compound or a colloidal metal compound, from a mixture - e.g. a reaction mixture - said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoiy acid optionally anchored to an insoluble support, thereby producing a precipitate. In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a process for the purification of a mixture containing at least one homogeneous metal compound (and /or a component thereof), preferably a dissolved metal compound or a colloidal metal compound, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoiy acid, optionally anchored to an insoluble support, thereby producing a precipitate and recovering the mixture. In an embodiment, the invention, is directed to a process for the recovery of at least one homogeneous metal compound (or a component thereof), preferably a dissolved metal compound or a colloidal metal compound, e.g a homogeneous metal catalyst from a mixture, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoiy acid, optionally anchored to an insoluble support, thereby producing a precipitate that is substantially insoluble in the said mixture and recovering the metal compound or one or more components thereof from the said precipitate. The invention is also embodied in a process for carrying out a chemical reaction, wherein a reaction mixture, after completion of the reaction is contacted with a heteropoiy acid, optionally anchored to an insoluble support. The present invention comprises an embodiment wherein a heteropoiy acid or an anion thereof is added to a mixrure, thereby forming an insoluble precipitate with the metal compound (or with an unbound atomic or ionic metal moiety), which can be separated from the mixture using conventional separation techniques. It is assumed that the heteropoiy acd or anion thereof interacts with the metal species, thereby forming complex that is insoluble (under the contacting conditions). In case the metal species is complexed with cne or more ligands, these ligands will generally stay attached to the metal and will be removed together with the said insoluble complex. This makes it possible to recover at least part of the ligands too, which may be important in case the ligands are expensive and/or contaminate the product mixture. The invention further comprises an embodiment wherein the heteropoly acid or anion thereof is bound in some way to a support material. The same principles apply in that case, but additional advantages are that the of risk contamination of the mixture with heteropoly acids or anions is avoided or at least significantly reduced. Further, it facilitates separation of the metal compound from the process stream, because liquid-solid separation can readily be employed and it is possible to separate the mixture and the metal compound attached to the heteropoly acid in a fixed-bed application. This invention allows the binding of homogeneous metal compounds or components thereof, preferably dissolved metal compounds or colloidal metal compounds - such as homogeneous metal catalyst, catalyst remains or metal based colour-indicating means - from a (reaction) mixture. In this respect the terms catalyst and catalyst remains are both used to indicate all those components that can be present in a (homogeneously) catalysed reaction mixture. Such a catalyst or catalyst remains typically at least consists of at least one metal atom and/or at least one ligand, or at least one metal ion and/or at least one counter ion and/or at least one ligand. More in particular this includes all catalyst related components that are present in the (reaction) mixture, such as precursors of a. catalyst, the active catalyst and the decomposition products of the catalyst, or catalysts or remains thereof that have leached from a (supported) catalyst into the reaction mixtures. The removal may refer to removing at least part of the metal species, but. also, if applicable, to removing the ligand(s), and/or the counter ions. When using the term catalyst, it is to be understood, that this encompasses all said components. More in particular, the invention is useful for removing metal complexes, such as catalyst materials, that consists of at least one metal atom and/or at least one ligand, or at least one metal ion and/or at least one counter for and/or at least one ligand. Such complexes may be represented lay the formula Mm(L)nXp wherein M represents a metal atom or metal ion, preferably a transition metal atom or ion, more preferably Rh, Ru, Ir, Pd, Pt, Ni or an ion thereof, wherein each L represents an organic or inorganic molecule with electron donating properties, preferably a molecule containing one or more heteroatoms like P, S, N or O or a molecule containing one or more unsaturated bonds, more preferably a molecule selected from the group consisting of phosphines, nitrogen and/or oxygen containing ligands (e.g. acetonitril, CO or HaO), cyclic dienes (e.g. cyclooctadiene (cod)), cyclic trienes; wherein m is at least 1; wherein n is an integer in the range of 0-6; wherein each X represents an inorganic moiety, preferably selected from iie group consisting of H-, C1-, BF4-, ClO4-, SbF6-. NO3-, PF6-, anionic organic molecules and negatively charged complexes of a metal ion; preferred examples of such negatively charged complexes of a metal ion include transmition metal ion complexes (e.g. of Rh, Ru, Ir, Pd, Pt, an actinide, a lanthanide) and complexes of an alkaline earth metal ion; wherein p is an integer chosen in the range of 0-8. Dissolved and/or finely and stable dispersed clusters of metal complexes of the formula M(L)nXp and multimetallic compounds (i.e. wherein m>1) are included. The compound may comprise more than one metal moiety, e.g. in the case of a colloidal metal compound. Particular good results have been, achieved with a process to remove compounds with a single metal moiety per compound (i.e. m=1). A couple of examples of metal complexes that can be removed in a process according to the invention axe the complexes that are obtained from the precursor complexes [Rh((R,R)-Me-DuPHOS)(COD)]BF4 ((R,R)-Me- DuPHOS = (-)-1,2-bis((2R,5R)-2,5-dimethylphospholano)benzene), [Ru((R)- BINAP)Cl2]2-NE3 (R)-BINAP = (R)-(+)-2,2"-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1"- binaphtyl, Pd(CAc)2, Rh(CO)(H)(PPh3)3, NiMO3(H2O)6. Also metal compounds originating from dispersed heterogeneous materials that have been added to the reaction mixture for catalytic purposes or other reasons can be removed by a process according to the present invention. Heteropoly anions are polymeric oxoanions (polyoxometalates) that may be formed by condensation of two or more kinds of oxoanions. Heteropoly acids are protonated heteropoly anions. The term heteropoly compound (HPA) is used for the acid forms and the salts. Unless in otherwise, the term heteropoly acid is used herein to describe both the acid form and the salt. Heteropoly anions are composed of oxides of adenda atoms (V, Nb, Mo, W, etc) and heteroatoms (P, Si etc). The structures are classified into several groups based on the similarity of the composition and structure such as Keggin-type, Dawson species, Waugh species, Anderson species, Silverton species and their lacunar and other crystalline or non-crystalline forms and anions of the preceding. The heteropoiy compounds contain one or more strong protons which can partly or completely be replaced by alkali, alkali earth or quaternary ammonium ions. Other HPA-related compounds are organic and organometallic complexes of polyanions. Keggin type heteropoly acids are preferred in this invention. Keggin-type heteropoly compounds generally are represented by the formula (XM12O40)m-, wherein X is a heteroatom, such as P, Si, etc, and wherein M is an addenda atom, such as V, Nb, Mo, W, etc. Examples of particularly suitable heteropoly acids are phosphotungstic acid (PTA), phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) and silicotungstic acid (STA). As indicated above, the heteropoly acid may be used as such, or dissolved in a suitable solvent (solvents in which heteropoly acid dissolves e.g. polar solvents such as alcoholic solvents, H2O) or attached to a support material. Obviously a mixture of several different heteropoly acids may be employed in accordance with the invention. Contact between the supported or unsupported heteropoly acid or anion generally occurs in a liquid at a temperature of from about -80 degree C to about 250 degree C for a time period of from about 1 min. to about 50 hrs. Preferably, this occurs at temperatures of between about 20 degree C and about 100 degree C. for a period of between 0.1 and 12 hours. The ratio metal compound to heteropoly acid may be varied within a wide range depending upon the required purity of the treated reaction mixture and the desired speed of the removal process. For many purposes, e.g. for a complete removal of metal compounds, usually at least 1 equivalent of heteropoly acid is employed; herein, 1 equivalent is defined as acidic site per metal ion or metal atom. It is however possible to use a lower amount of heteropoly acid, e.g. because ccmplete removal is not desired. The amount of heteropoly acid will typically be at least 0.1 and usually up to 4000 equivalents of heteropoly acid. Preferably 0.5-1000 equivalents of heteropoly acid are employed, if it is a goal to remove at least the majority of the metal compounds. Very suitable is an embodiment wherein 0.75-100 equivalents of one or more heteropoly acids were employed. Very good results have been achieved with an embodiment wherein 1-50 equivalents of heteropoly acid are used. Typically, in a method according to the present invention the supported heteropoly acid or its anion is present in a weight ratio with the support of from about 0.01:1 to about 20:1 Suitable support materials are insoluble oxides, organic supports and combinations thereof. Preferred examples of insoluble oxides are alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, active carbons, zeolites, clay materials and combinations thereof. Preferred organic support; are polymers, oligomers, composites and materials coated with an organic moiety. The supports may be structured materials, e.g. shaped materials such as a star shaped material or a maze or applied to another support such a$ a structured packing (monolith and the like). The contacting can be done by any method that allows for the heteropoly acid or anion to be in good contact with the (reaction) mixture. In case of use of unsupported materials, it can simply be mixed into the reaction mixture in suitable quantity, followed by separating the insoluble complex from the liquid. The supported material may be brought into contact in a suitable way, such as by using a chromatographic method, using a fixed bed, under slurry reaction conditions or by using structured packing. After the (reaction) mixture and the solid support have been in contact, the metal compound, e.g. the catalyst or its remains, can be removed from the (reaction) mixture by simple filtration, sedimenation, centrifugation or decantation techniques. The metal compound may be recovered from the solid material, for example by washing with a solution containing suitable compounds or by removal of the support by methods employed in precious metal refinery. A method according to the invention is particularly suitable for the removal of a metal catalyst or remains thereof from a reaction mixture, inter alia because usually the reaction products do not have any chemical interaction with the supported or unsupported heteropoly acids or anions, with or without attached homogeneous catalysts, and can be separated unaffectedly from the supported or unsupported heteropoly acids or anions, with or without attached homogeneous catalysts. This allows one to perform a homogeneous metal catalysed reaction and recover/remove the homogeneous catalyst remains by a simple method. In this way the catalyst can easiy be recovered and/or a very pure reaction mixture can be obtained. In case of the use of the support modified with heteropoiy acids or anions in a fixed bed application, the reaction mixture that contains the metal compounc, such as the catalyst or its remains, can be run through the bed. The metal compound will stick to the solid material and the product will flow through the bed unaffected. If desired the acidity of the fixed bed material can be modified by addition of a base, e.g. Et3N or LiOH and other salts. If the remains of the catalyst are coloured, saturation of the fixed bed can be followed visually. Other ways to bind homogeneous catalyst remains to the modified support are slurrying the product solution with modified support material. After s certain time, the modified support material - with bonded catalyst remains can be removed from the process stream by simple decantation, filtration, centrifugation or sedimentation techniques. The modified support material can be collected and the valuable materials e.g. precious metals - can be recovered and re-used. The modified support can be prepared by slurrying the support in a polar or ap alar solvent, preferably in a. solvent in which the heteropoly acid or anion is also soluble. To this suspension, a solution of heteropoly acid or anion is added, in which the weight ratio of the heteropoly acid or its anion with the support is present in from about 0.01:1 to about 20:1. In a method according to the invention the reaction between the support and the heteropoiy acid is carried out at a temperature from -80 to 250 degrees C, preferably at a temperature between 0 and 100 degrees C. The reaction times can be varied within broad limits. The reaction time can for example suitably be chosen in the range of 1 minute to 50 hours, preferably between 2 and 16 hours. After the reaction is completed, the solid material can be washed with any solvent that could remove unsupported heteropoly acids or anions and the solid can be dried at a temperature between 0 and 500 degrees C, with or without applied vacuum. The conditions for the present invention depend on the type of heteropoly acid, the nature of the metal complexes and the kind of reaction mixture. More in particular, the temperature may be between -80 and 250oC, whereas the pressure may vary between 100 and 10-5 bar (a). The types of the chemical reactions contemplated in the context of the present invention are generally catalysed reductions, oxidations, couplings reactions, addition reactions, elimination reactions, and preferably (chiral) hydrogenations, (chiral) hydrogen transfer reactions, C- C coupling reactions (e.g. Heck, Suzuki, Stille, allylic substitutions, metathesis, polymerisations etc.), oxidations, (chiral) epoxidations, hydroformylations etc. In a preferred embodiment such chemical reactions are homogeneously catalysed reactions. Examples Preparation of silicontungstic acid modified alumina 150 grams of alumina (230 m2, 150 raicron particles) were suspended in 500 mL ethanol, technical grade. 32.95 grams of silicotungstic acid were dissolved in 100 mL ethanol and dropwisely added to the spired alumina suspension in 1 hour at room temperature. After 14 hours tae stirring was stopped, and after another 2 minutes the upper layer was removed by decantation. The remaining solids were washed several limes with 1 L portions of demi H2O to remove any unsupported silicotungstic acid. The solids were dried at 200 degrees C. Analysis with ICP showed that the alumina, contained 11.7 wt% tungsten, which is equivalent to 18.0 wt% silicotungstic acid. Removal of [Rh(R,R)-Me-DuPHOS](COD)[BF4 catalyst remains 12.6 mg of [Rh((R,R)-Me-DuPHOS)(COD)]BF4 (21 micromol) were dissolved in a 20 mL methanol solution containing 6.33 grains of dimethyl itaconate (40 mmol) under a nitrogen atmosphere. The slightly orange coloured solution was transferred in a hydrogenation reactor. The reaction mixture was purged with H2. The reaction mixture was stirred under a hydrogen pressure of 20 psig for two hours at ambient temperature (22 degrees C). A column (3.7 cm high, diameter 1.3 cm) was packed with 5.06 grams of silicotungstic acid modified alumina (18.0 wt% silicotungstic acid, determined by ICP). After two hours the orange coloured solution was transferred from the reactor to the top of the column. A colourless solution was collected at the bottom of the column containing 6.01 grams (95 % yield) cf the hydrogenated product in high enantiomeric purity (enantiomeric excess (e.e.) 97.5 %, determined by Chiral GC). The colourless solution contained less than 10 microgram rhodium and less than 10 microgram of tungsten. The orange colour remained on the column. The solids from the column appeared to contain 11.7 wt% tungsten and 0.04 wt% rhodium (determined by ICP). The Rh presumably originates from the remains of the [Rh((R,R)-Me-DuPHOS)(COD)]BF4 catalyst. Removal of [Ru((R)-BINAP)Cl2]2-NEt3 catalyst remains The catalyst precursor [Ru((R)-BINAP)Cl2]2.NEt3 was prepared as described by King et al in J. Org. Chem. 1992, 57, 6689-6691. The catalytic test was also performed as described in this article using 18.2 mg of [Ru((R)-BINAF)Cl2]2.NEt3 (21 micromol), 44 micromoles of HCl, 6.97 grams of t-butyl acetoacetate (42.9 mmol) and 13 mL MeOH. A column (7.5 cm high, diameter 1.3 cm) was packed with 10.0 grams of silicotungstic acid modified alumina (18 wt% silicotungstic acid, determined by ICP). After 12 hours the hydrogenation of t- butylacetoacetare was completed and the orange coloured solution was transferred from the reactor to the top of the column. A slightly yellow coloured solution was collected at the bottom of the column containing. 6.46 grams (39 mmol, 91 % yield) of t-butyl-3-hydroxybutyrate, the hydxogenated product, in high enantiomeric purity (e.e. 93 %, chiral HPLC). The slightly coloured solution also contained 109 micrograms Ru (5 % of total amount of ruthenium) and less than 10 microgram of tungsten (determined by ICP). We claim: 1. Process for separating one or more metal compound such as herein described and/or a component thereof from a mixture such as herein described, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid such as herein described or heteropoly acid artion, thereby producing a precipitate comprising the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and the metal compound and/or the component thereof, 2. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein: - the mixture is purified from the one or more metal compounds and/or components thereof and wherein a purified mixture is recovered; and or - the precipitate is recovered from the mixture and the one or more metal compounds and/or one or more components thereof are recovered from the precipitate. 3. Process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion is anchored to a support material and wherein the metal compound and/or one or more components thereof is recovered from the support material such as herein described. 4. Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the amount of heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion is O.lto 4000 equivalent. 5. Process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the amount of heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion is 1 to 50 equivalent. 6. Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the said metal compound and/or component thereof consists of one or more metal atoms and/or one or more ligands, or one or more metal ions and/ or one or more counter ions and/or one or more ligands. 7. Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion has been attached to an insoluble support material. 8. Process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of insoluble oxides, preferably selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide and clay materials, active carbons, zeolites and combinations thereof. 9. Process as claimed in claim 8, wherein the support is alumina. 10.Process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of organic supports, such as polymers, composites, oligomers and coated material. 11.Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, is selected from the group of keggin type heteropoly acids and anions. 12.Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein title metals compound is based on one or more metal from the group consisting of Ph, Ru, Ir, Pd and Pt. 13.Process as claimed in any of the claims 6-12, wherein one or more of the ligands is selected from the group consisting of organic acids and inorganic molecules with electron donating properties, preferably from the group consisting of molecules containing one or more unsaturated bonds and of molecules containing one or more heteroatoms, selected from the group consisting of P, S, N and O. 14.Process as claimed in claim 13, wherein one or more of the ligands is selected from the group consisting of phosphines, nitrogen and/or oxygen containing ligands, cyclic dienes, cyclic trienes, CO and H2O. 15. Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the metal compound is derived from the group consisting of precursor complexes [Rh(R,R)-Me-DuPHOS) (COD)] BF (R,R)- Me-DuPHOS = (-)-/2-bis((2R,5R)-2,5-dimethylphospholano) benzene), [Ru((R) -BINAP)cl].NEt R)-BINAP=(R)-(+)-2,2- bis(dephenylphosphino)-1,1"-binaphtyl, Pd (Oac)2, RH (CO) (H) (PPh3)3, NiNO3 (H2O)6. 16.Process as claimed in any of the claims 7 - 15, wherein the support material is situated in a fixed bed type conformation and the mixture is passed there through, wherein the metal compound is attached to one or more heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and removed from the said mixture. 17.Process as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support material is present in a structured from. 18.Process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the support material is selected from the group consisting of monoliths, star shaped materials and maze shaped materials. 19.Process as claimed in any of the claims 16-18, wherein the heteropoly acid or a heteropoly acid anion, or the support modified therewith, is slurried in the said mixture and subsequently removed therefrom. 20.Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the metal compound is a catalyst or a remains thereof, 21.Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the metal compound is in a homogeneous phase, preferably dissolved in a solvent or present in a colloidal phase. Process for separating one or more metal compound such as herein described and/or a component thereof from a mixture such as herein described, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid such as herein described or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate comprising the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and the metal compound and/or the component thereof.

Full Text

Title: Metal removal
The invention is directed to a process for the removal of metal
compounds, such as a catalyst or catalyst remains from liquid reaction
systems. More ir. particular the invention is. directed to the removal of
metal compounds, such as a catalyst or catalyst remains, from
homogeneously catalysed reaction systems.
Metal compounds are applied in a variety of applications, e.g. as
catalysts, colourants or pharmaceutically active compounds.
Catalysts based upon metal complexes, generally comprise at
least one metal compound that at least consists of at least one metal atom
and/or at least one ligand, or at least one metal ion and/or at least one
counter ion and /or at least one ligand. Such catalyst systems are very
effective and selective catalysts in homogeneous catalyst systems for a
broad range of reactions. However, it is often very difficult to remove the
(homogeneous) catalyst or its remains from the reaction mixture after the
reaction has been completed. Quite often (difficult extraction procedures,
recrystallizations, membrane filtrations or distillation steps are necessary
to remove the catalyst or its remains.
Other methods describe a modification of homogeneous catalysts
that simplifies separation from the reaction products. However, such a
modification oi a homogeneous catalyst also changes its catalytic
properties.
Cataysts and/or its remains have to be removed from a process
stream in order to obtain pure products. A simple and efficient method to
purify process streams from catalysts and /or its remains is desirable,
also from an economic and environmental point of view.
US patent 4,413, 118 describes a process in which organic sulfur
compounds containing a carbon-sulfur double bond are used to remove
homogeneous catalyst group VIII metals from chemical process streams.
US patent 4,855,4-00 describes the removal of catalyst residues from
carbon monoxide/olefin polymers with a catalyst completing agent for
palladium. US patent 4,952,304 describes the removal of a group VIII
catalyst and co-catalyst by treating the contaminated product with an
aqueous solution of a silicate, borate or carbonate. The catalyst residues
are extracted in the aqueous layer.
Fedotov et al. descnbe the use of membranes to separate a bulky
homogeneous catalyst from the reaction mixture in Catalysis Letters 1990,
6, 417-422.
US patent 6,303,829 and US patent 6,307,108 describe the use of
fractional countercurrent extraction to remove metal-organophosphorus
complexes from the reaction product fluid. US patent 4,429,057 describes
the removal of volatile precious metal catalysts from a process stream by
selective extraction in alcoholic liquids. US patent 4,950,629 describes the
precipitation of homogeneous catalysts from a reaction solution solvent by
reaction with lower alkanoic acid.
US pater t 6,187,962 describes the separation of a homogeneous
catalyst from a hydroformylation process stream by extraction methods.
US patent 4,353,810 describes the removal of an iron oxidation
catalyst by reaction of the iron catalyst with an iron oxidant material
which will cause the precipitation of the iron catalyst.
Many of the described processes have a lack of efficiency and
only partly remove catalyst residues. Moreover, the additives that are used
contaminate the product mixtures and are difficult to remove from the
process stream. This makes the described methods unattractive from a
process point of view.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process that
does not have all the aforementioned disadvantages.
The invention is based on the idea that certain compounds, in
particular hei eropoly acids, have the property to bind very effectively and
selectively with metal compounds i.e. compounds comprising at least one
metal atom or ion such as homogeneous metal catalysts, thereby forming
an insoluble precipitate. These heteropoly acids can also be attached to
supports such as those based on various insoluble oxides and organic
supports.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a process for
separating at least one metal compound and/or a component thereof from
a mixture, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a
heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate
comprising the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and the metal
compound and/or the component thereof. It will be appreciated that in
general the precipitate is substantially insoluble in the said, mixture
(under the contacting conditions).
Accordingly, it is possible to contact a mixture - generally at
least comprising the metal compound - containing the metal
compound(s), with a heteropoly acid or with a support material modified
with a heteropcly acid, so that the metal compound and/or a component
thereof can be removed from the mixture by separating the resulting solids
from the mixture. This invention provides a tool to efficiently remove metal
compounds, such as catalysts or catalyst remains from a liquid, e.g. a
liquid process stream. The invention is particularly suitable to remove or
recover a homogeneous metal compound or a component thereof dissolved
in a liquid solution, from a liquid solution; further, the invention is
particularly suitable to purify a solution containing a homogenous metal
compound.
The term homogeneous metal compound is used herein to
describe a metal compound dissolved in a solvent, a metal compound
present in a colloidal phase (hereinafter referred to as colloidal metal
compound), a dispersed metal compound, a metal compound in an
emulsion, a metal compound in a sol and in general to describe metal
compounds that are present in a fluid system in a fashion that does not
generally allow the metal and /or metal compound to be readily separated
by filtration from the fluid.
Components of metal compounds that can be separated include
unbound metal moieties, ligands and counter ions.
A mixture from which the metal compound and/or a component
thereof is separated can be any fluid containing said metal compound
and/or component thereof dissolved, suspended, dispersed or otherwise
contained in ssid fluid.
A process according to the invention may be used to achieve a
partial or an essentially complete removal of metal compounds and/or
components thereof such as catalysts or catalyst remains. Of course it is
possible that several types of metal compounds and components are
removed simultaneaously or subsequently in a process according to the
invention.
Very good results have been achieved with a method according
to the invention wherein a compound comprising and ionic metal moiety is
removed. It is stressed that the ionic metal moiety can either be anionic
(e.g. Ru-) or cetionic.
The present invention is not limited to the removal of catalysts
and/or remains thereof. A process according to the invention may also be
used to remote or purify other metal compounds, e.g. complexes used as
colourants or metal chelates for pharmaceutical purposes.
The invention may be employed to recover metal compounds or
to purify products such as pharmaceuticals or foodstuffs, that may be
contaminated with metal compounds, such as catalysts or remains thereof
that have leached from a (supported) catalyst into the product.
In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a process for the
removal of at least one homogeneous metal compound (and/or a
component thereof), preferably a dissolved metal compound or a colloidal
metal compound, from a mixture - e.g. a reaction mixture - said process
comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoiy acid optionally
anchored to an insoluble support, thereby producing a precipitate.
In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a process for the
purification of a mixture containing at least one homogeneous metal
compound (and /or a component thereof), preferably a dissolved metal
compound or a colloidal metal compound, said process comprising
contacting the said mixture with a heteropoiy acid, optionally anchored to
an insoluble support, thereby producing a precipitate and recovering the
mixture.
In an embodiment, the invention, is directed to a process for the
recovery of at least one homogeneous metal compound (or a component
thereof), preferably a dissolved metal compound or a colloidal metal
compound, e.g a homogeneous metal catalyst from a mixture, said
process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoiy acid,
optionally anchored to an insoluble support, thereby producing a
precipitate that is substantially insoluble in the said mixture and
recovering the metal compound or one or more components thereof from
the said precipitate.
The invention is also embodied in a process for carrying out a
chemical reaction, wherein a reaction mixture, after completion of the
reaction is contacted with a heteropoiy acid, optionally anchored to an
insoluble support.
The present invention comprises an embodiment wherein a
heteropoiy acid or an anion thereof is added to a mixrure, thereby forming
an insoluble precipitate with the metal compound (or with an unbound
atomic or ionic metal moiety), which can be separated from the mixture
using conventional separation techniques. It is assumed that the
heteropoiy acd or anion thereof interacts with the metal species, thereby
forming complex that is insoluble (under the contacting conditions). In
case the metal species is complexed with cne or more ligands, these
ligands will generally stay attached to the metal and will be removed
together with the said insoluble complex. This makes it possible to recover
at least part of the ligands too, which may be important in case the
ligands are expensive and/or contaminate the product mixture.
The invention further comprises an embodiment wherein the
heteropoly acid or anion thereof is bound in some way to a support
material. The same principles apply in that case, but additional
advantages are that the of risk contamination of the mixture with
heteropoly acids or anions is avoided or at least significantly reduced.
Further, it facilitates separation of the metal compound from the process
stream, because liquid-solid separation can readily be employed and it is
possible to separate the mixture and the metal compound attached to the
heteropoly acid in a fixed-bed application.
This invention allows the binding of homogeneous metal
compounds or components thereof, preferably dissolved metal compounds
or colloidal metal compounds - such as homogeneous metal catalyst,
catalyst remains or metal based colour-indicating means - from a
(reaction) mixture. In this respect the terms catalyst and catalyst remains
are both used to indicate all those components that can be present in a
(homogeneously) catalysed reaction mixture. Such a catalyst or catalyst
remains typically at least consists of at least one metal atom and/or at
least one ligand, or at least one metal ion and/or at least one counter ion
and/or at least one ligand. More in particular this includes all catalyst
related components that are present in the (reaction) mixture, such as
precursors of a. catalyst, the active catalyst and the decomposition
products of the catalyst, or catalysts or remains thereof that have leached
from a (supported) catalyst into the reaction mixtures.
The removal may refer to removing at least part of the metal
species, but. also, if applicable, to removing the ligand(s), and/or the
counter ions. When using the term catalyst, it is to be understood, that
this encompasses all said components.
More in particular, the invention is useful for removing metal
complexes, such as catalyst materials, that consists of at least one metal
atom and/or at least one ligand, or at least one metal ion and/or at least
one counter for and/or at least one ligand. Such complexes may be
represented lay the formula Mm(L)nXp wherein M represents a metal atom
or metal ion, preferably a transition metal atom or ion, more preferably
Rh, Ru, Ir, Pd, Pt, Ni or an ion thereof,
wherein each L represents an organic or inorganic molecule with
electron donating properties, preferably a molecule containing one or more
heteroatoms like P, S, N or O or a molecule containing one or more
unsaturated bonds, more preferably a molecule selected from the group
consisting of phosphines, nitrogen and/or oxygen containing ligands (e.g.
acetonitril, CO or HaO), cyclic dienes (e.g. cyclooctadiene (cod)), cyclic
trienes;
wherein m is at least 1;
wherein n is an integer in the range of 0-6;
wherein each X represents an inorganic moiety, preferably
selected from iie group consisting of H-, C1-, BF4-, ClO4-, SbF6-. NO3-, PF6-,
anionic organic molecules and negatively charged complexes of a metal
ion; preferred examples of such negatively charged complexes of a metal
ion include transmition metal ion complexes (e.g. of Rh, Ru, Ir, Pd, Pt, an
actinide, a lanthanide) and complexes of an alkaline earth metal ion;
wherein p is an integer chosen in the range of 0-8.
Dissolved and/or finely and stable dispersed clusters of metal
complexes of the formula M(L)nXp and multimetallic compounds (i.e.
wherein m>1) are included. The compound may comprise more than one
metal moiety, e.g. in the case of a colloidal metal compound.
Particular good results have been, achieved with a process to
remove compounds with a single metal moiety per compound (i.e. m=1).
A couple of examples of metal complexes that can be removed in
a process according to the invention axe the complexes that are obtained
from the precursor complexes [Rh((R,R)-Me-DuPHOS)(COD)]BF4 ((R,R)-Me-
DuPHOS = (-)-1,2-bis((2R,5R)-2,5-dimethylphospholano)benzene), [Ru((R)-
BINAP)Cl2]2-NE3 (R)-BINAP = (R)-(+)-2,2"-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1"-
binaphtyl, Pd(CAc)2, Rh(CO)(H)(PPh3)3, NiMO3(H2O)6.
Also metal compounds originating from dispersed heterogeneous
materials that have been added to the reaction mixture for catalytic
purposes or other reasons can be removed by a process according to the
present invention.
Heteropoly anions are polymeric oxoanions (polyoxometalates)
that may be formed by condensation of two or more kinds of oxoanions.
Heteropoly acids are protonated heteropoly anions. The term heteropoly
compound (HPA) is used for the acid forms and the salts. Unless in
otherwise, the term heteropoly acid is used herein to describe both the
acid form and the salt. Heteropoly anions are composed of oxides of
adenda atoms (V, Nb, Mo, W, etc) and heteroatoms (P, Si etc). The
structures are classified into several groups based on the similarity of the
composition and structure such as Keggin-type, Dawson species, Waugh
species, Anderson species, Silverton species and their lacunar and other
crystalline or non-crystalline forms and anions of the preceding. The
heteropoiy compounds contain one or more strong protons which can
partly or completely be replaced by alkali, alkali earth or quaternary
ammonium ions. Other HPA-related compounds are organic and
organometallic complexes of polyanions. Keggin type heteropoly acids are
preferred in this invention. Keggin-type heteropoly compounds generally
are represented by the formula (XM12O40)m-, wherein X is a heteroatom,
such as P, Si, etc, and wherein M is an addenda atom, such as V, Nb, Mo,
W, etc. Examples of particularly suitable heteropoly acids are
phosphotungstic acid (PTA), phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) and
silicotungstic acid (STA).
As indicated above, the heteropoly acid may be used as such, or
dissolved in a suitable solvent (solvents in which heteropoly acid dissolves
e.g. polar solvents such as alcoholic solvents, H2O) or attached to a
support material. Obviously a mixture of several different heteropoly acids
may be employed in accordance with the invention.
Contact between the supported or unsupported heteropoly acid
or anion generally occurs in a liquid at a temperature of from about -80
degree C to about 250 degree C for a time period of from about 1 min. to
about 50 hrs. Preferably, this occurs at temperatures of between about 20
degree C and about 100 degree C. for a period of between 0.1 and 12
hours.
The ratio metal compound to heteropoly acid may be varied
within a wide range depending upon the required purity of the treated
reaction mixture and the desired speed of the removal process. For many
purposes, e.g. for a complete removal of metal compounds, usually at least
1 equivalent of heteropoly acid is employed; herein, 1 equivalent is defined
as acidic site per metal ion or metal atom.
It is however possible to use a lower amount of heteropoly acid,
e.g. because ccmplete removal is not desired. The amount of heteropoly
acid will typically be at least 0.1 and usually up to 4000 equivalents of
heteropoly acid. Preferably 0.5-1000 equivalents of heteropoly acid are
employed, if it is a goal to remove at least the majority of the metal
compounds. Very suitable is an embodiment wherein 0.75-100
equivalents of one or more heteropoly acids were employed. Very good
results have been achieved with an embodiment wherein 1-50 equivalents
of heteropoly acid are used.
Typically, in a method according to the present invention the
supported heteropoly acid or its anion is present in a weight ratio with the
support of from about 0.01:1 to about 20:1
Suitable support materials are insoluble oxides, organic
supports and combinations thereof. Preferred examples of insoluble oxides
are alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, active
carbons, zeolites, clay materials and combinations thereof. Preferred
organic support; are polymers, oligomers, composites and materials
coated with an organic moiety. The supports may be structured materials,
e.g. shaped materials such as a star shaped material or a maze or applied
to another support such a$ a structured packing (monolith and the like).
The contacting can be done by any method that allows for the
heteropoly acid or anion to be in good contact with the (reaction) mixture.
In case of use of unsupported materials, it can simply be mixed into the
reaction mixture in suitable quantity, followed by separating the insoluble
complex from the liquid. The supported material may be brought into
contact in a suitable way, such as by using a chromatographic method,
using a fixed bed, under slurry reaction conditions or by using structured
packing. After the (reaction) mixture and the solid support have been in
contact, the metal compound, e.g. the catalyst or its remains, can be
removed from the (reaction) mixture by simple filtration, sedimenation,
centrifugation or decantation techniques. The metal compound may be
recovered from the solid material, for example by washing with a solution
containing suitable compounds or by removal of the support by methods
employed in precious metal refinery.
A method according to the invention is particularly suitable for
the removal of a metal catalyst or remains thereof from a reaction mixture,
inter alia because usually the reaction products do not have any chemical
interaction with the supported or unsupported heteropoly acids or anions,
with or without attached homogeneous catalysts, and can be separated
unaffectedly from the supported or unsupported heteropoly acids or
anions, with or without attached homogeneous catalysts. This allows one
to perform a homogeneous metal catalysed reaction and recover/remove
the homogeneous catalyst remains by a simple method. In this way the
catalyst can easiy be recovered and/or a very pure reaction mixture can
be obtained.
In case of the use of the support modified with heteropoiy acids
or anions in a fixed bed application, the reaction mixture that contains the
metal compounc, such as the catalyst or its remains, can be run through
the bed. The metal compound will stick to the solid material and the
product will flow through the bed unaffected. If desired the acidity of the
fixed bed material can be modified by addition of a base, e.g. Et3N or LiOH
and other salts. If the remains of the catalyst are coloured, saturation of
the fixed bed can be followed visually.
Other ways to bind homogeneous catalyst remains to the
modified support are slurrying the product solution with modified support
material. After s certain time, the modified support material - with bonded
catalyst remains can be removed from the process stream by simple
decantation, filtration, centrifugation or sedimentation techniques. The
modified support material can be collected and the valuable materials
e.g. precious metals - can be recovered and re-used.
The modified support can be prepared by slurrying the support
in a polar or ap alar solvent, preferably in a. solvent in which the heteropoly
acid or anion is also soluble. To this suspension, a solution of heteropoly
acid or anion is added, in which the weight ratio of the heteropoly acid or
its anion with the support is present in from about 0.01:1 to about 20:1.
In a method according to the invention the reaction between the support
and the heteropoiy acid is carried out at a temperature from -80 to 250
degrees C, preferably at a temperature between 0 and 100 degrees C. The
reaction times can be varied within broad limits. The reaction time can for
example suitably be chosen in the range of 1 minute to 50 hours,
preferably between 2 and 16 hours. After the reaction is completed, the
solid material can be washed with any solvent that could remove
unsupported heteropoly acids or anions and the solid can be dried at a
temperature between 0 and 500 degrees C, with or without applied
vacuum.
The conditions for the present invention depend on the type of
heteropoly acid, the nature of the metal complexes and the kind of
reaction mixture. More in particular, the temperature may be between -80
and 250oC, whereas the pressure may vary between 100 and 10-5 bar (a).
The types of the chemical reactions contemplated in the context
of the present invention are generally catalysed reductions, oxidations,
couplings reactions, addition reactions, elimination reactions, and
preferably (chiral) hydrogenations, (chiral) hydrogen transfer reactions, C-
C coupling reactions (e.g. Heck, Suzuki, Stille, allylic substitutions,
metathesis, polymerisations etc.), oxidations, (chiral) epoxidations,
hydroformylations etc. In a preferred embodiment such chemical reactions
are homogeneously catalysed reactions.
Examples
Preparation of silicontungstic acid modified alumina
150 grams of alumina (230 m2, 150 raicron particles) were
suspended in 500 mL ethanol, technical grade. 32.95 grams of
silicotungstic acid were dissolved in 100 mL ethanol and dropwisely
added to the spired alumina suspension in 1 hour at room temperature.
After 14 hours tae stirring was stopped, and after another 2 minutes the
upper layer was removed by decantation. The remaining solids were
washed several limes with 1 L portions of demi H2O to remove any
unsupported silicotungstic acid. The solids were dried at 200 degrees C.
Analysis with ICP showed that the alumina, contained 11.7 wt% tungsten,
which is equivalent to 18.0 wt% silicotungstic acid.
Removal of [Rh(R,R)-Me-DuPHOS](COD)[BF4 catalyst remains
12.6 mg of [Rh((R,R)-Me-DuPHOS)(COD)]BF4 (21 micromol) were
dissolved in a 20 mL methanol solution containing 6.33 grains of dimethyl
itaconate (40 mmol) under a nitrogen atmosphere. The slightly orange
coloured solution was transferred in a hydrogenation reactor. The reaction
mixture was purged with H2. The reaction mixture was stirred under a
hydrogen pressure of 20 psig for two hours at ambient temperature (22
degrees C).
A column (3.7 cm high, diameter 1.3 cm) was packed with 5.06
grams of silicotungstic acid modified alumina (18.0 wt% silicotungstic
acid, determined by ICP). After two hours the orange coloured solution
was transferred from the reactor to the top of the column. A colourless
solution was collected at the bottom of the column containing 6.01 grams
(95 % yield) cf the hydrogenated product in high enantiomeric purity
(enantiomeric excess (e.e.) 97.5 %, determined by Chiral GC). The
colourless solution contained less than 10 microgram rhodium and less
than 10 microgram of tungsten. The orange colour remained on the
column. The solids from the column appeared to contain 11.7 wt%
tungsten and 0.04 wt% rhodium (determined by ICP). The Rh presumably
originates from the remains of the [Rh((R,R)-Me-DuPHOS)(COD)]BF4
catalyst.
Removal of [Ru((R)-BINAP)Cl2]2-NEt3 catalyst remains
The catalyst precursor [Ru((R)-BINAP)Cl2]2.NEt3 was prepared as
described by King et al in J. Org. Chem. 1992, 57, 6689-6691. The
catalytic test was also performed as described in this article using 18.2 mg
of [Ru((R)-BINAF)Cl2]2.NEt3 (21 micromol), 44 micromoles of HCl, 6.97
grams of t-butyl acetoacetate (42.9 mmol) and 13 mL MeOH.
A column (7.5 cm high, diameter 1.3 cm) was packed with 10.0
grams of silicotungstic acid modified alumina (18 wt% silicotungstic acid,
determined by ICP). After 12 hours the hydrogenation of t-
butylacetoacetare was completed and the orange coloured solution was
transferred from the reactor to the top of the column. A slightly yellow
coloured solution was collected at the bottom of the column containing.
6.46 grams (39 mmol, 91 % yield) of t-butyl-3-hydroxybutyrate, the
hydxogenated product, in high enantiomeric purity (e.e. 93 %, chiral
HPLC). The slightly coloured solution also contained 109 micrograms Ru
(5 % of total amount of ruthenium) and less than 10 microgram of
tungsten (determined by ICP).
We claim:
1. Process for separating one or more metal compound such as
herein described and/or a component thereof from a mixture
such as herein described, said process comprising contacting
the said mixture with a heteropoly acid such as herein
described or heteropoly acid artion, thereby producing a
precipitate comprising the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid
anion and the metal compound and/or the component thereof,
2. Process as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- the mixture is purified from the one or more metal
compounds and/or components thereof and wherein a
purified mixture is recovered; and or
- the precipitate is recovered from the mixture and the one
or more metal compounds and/or one or more
components thereof are recovered from the precipitate.
3. Process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the heteropoly acid or
heteropoly acid anion is anchored to a support material and
wherein the metal compound and/or one or more components
thereof is recovered from the support material such as herein
described.
4. Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the
amount of heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion is O.lto
4000 equivalent.
5. Process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the amount of
heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion is 1 to 50 equivalent.
6. Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the
said metal compound and/or component thereof consists of
one or more metal atoms and/or one or more ligands, or one or
more metal ions and/ or one or more counter ions and/or one
or more ligands.
7. Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the
heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion has been attached to
an insoluble support material.
8. Process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support material is
selected from the group consisting of insoluble oxides,
preferably selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica,
zirconia, titania, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide and clay
materials, active carbons, zeolites and combinations thereof.
9. Process as claimed in claim 8, wherein the support is alumina.
10.Process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support material is
selected from the group consisting of organic supports, such as
polymers, composites, oligomers and coated material.
11.Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the
heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, is selected from the
group of keggin type heteropoly acids and anions.
12.Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein title
metals compound is based on one or more metal from the
group consisting of Ph, Ru, Ir, Pd and Pt.
13.Process as claimed in any of the claims 6-12, wherein one or
more of the ligands is selected from the group consisting of
organic acids and inorganic molecules with electron donating
properties, preferably from the group consisting of molecules
containing one or more unsaturated bonds and of molecules
containing one or more heteroatoms, selected from the group
consisting of P, S, N and O.
14.Process as claimed in claim 13, wherein one or more of the
ligands is selected from the group consisting of phosphines,
nitrogen and/or oxygen containing ligands, cyclic dienes, cyclic
trienes, CO and H2O.
15. Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the
metal compound is derived from the group consisting of
precursor complexes [Rh(R,R)-Me-DuPHOS) (COD)] BF (R,R)-
Me-DuPHOS = (-)-/2-bis((2R,5R)-2,5-dimethylphospholano)
benzene), [Ru((R) -BINAP)cl].NEt R)-BINAP=(R)-(+)-2,2-
bis(dephenylphosphino)-1,1"-binaphtyl, Pd (Oac)2, RH (CO) (H)
(PPh3)3, NiNO3 (H2O)6.
16.Process as claimed in any of the claims 7 - 15, wherein the
support material is situated in a fixed bed type conformation
and the mixture is passed there through, wherein the metal
compound is attached to one or more heteropoly acid or
heteropoly acid anion and removed from the said mixture.
17.Process as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support material is
present in a structured from.
18.Process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the support material is
selected from the group consisting of monoliths, star shaped
materials and maze shaped materials.
19.Process as claimed in any of the claims 16-18, wherein the
heteropoly acid or a heteropoly acid anion, or the support
modified therewith, is slurried in the said mixture and
subsequently removed therefrom.
20.Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the
metal compound is a catalyst or a remains thereof,
21.Process as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the
metal compound is in a homogeneous phase, preferably
dissolved in a solvent or present in a colloidal phase.
Process for separating one or more metal compound such as
herein described and/or a component thereof from a mixture such
as herein described, said process comprising contacting the said
mixture with a heteropoly acid such as herein described or
heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate comprising
the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and the metal
compound and/or the component thereof.

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Patent Number

214980

Indian Patent Application Number

00011/KOLNP/2005

PG Journal Number

08/2008

Publication Date

22-Feb-2008

Grant Date

20-Feb-2008

Date of Filing

03-Jan-2005

Name of Patentee

ENGELHARD CORPORATION

Applicant Address

101, WOOD AVENUE..O. BOX 110 ISELIN NJ 08830770 USA.

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	BRANDTS, JIM ALOYSIUS MARIA	26, 2611 TW DELTT, NETHERLAND
2	BERBEN, PIETER HILDETARDUS	VINKENBUURT 12 3951 CZ MAARN THE NETHERLANDS.

PCT International Classification Number

B/61 22/00

PCT International Application Number

PCT/US03/021439

PCT International Filing date

2003-07-07

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	020777 60.3	2002-07-08	EUROPEAN UNION