METHOD OF RECOVERING AND REACTIVATING CATALYST CONTAINING COBALT USED AT TIME OF REACTION AMONG OLEFIN AND BOTH CARBON MONOXIDE AND ALKANOL

A process for recovering and reactivating catalysts used in the reaction of olefins with carbon monoxide and alkanols. The catalysts consist of a cobalt compound and pyridine, a non-ortho-substituted alkylpyridine or a mixture thereof as the promoter. The reacted mixture contains fatty acid ester, unconverted alkanol, uncoverted olefin, catalyst and promoter and this reacted mixture is treated with oxygen or an oxygenated gas at a temperature of about 20 DEG -150 DEG C. to oxidize the cobalt compound. The oxidized mixture is then separated by distillation to remove unconverted alkanol and olefin, the promoter, the reaction products and the distillation residue obtained thereby is mixed with pyridine, a non-ortho-substituted alkylpyridine or a mixture thereof. The suspension so obtained is treated with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at a temperature of 100 DEG to 250 DEG C. and at a pressure of at least 50 bars.