more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal› organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises treating said hydroformylation reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said hydroformy› lation reaction product fluid. stabi› 

This invention also relates in part to a process for lizing an organophosphite ligand against hydrolytic degra› dation and/or $_{a }$metal-organophosphite ligand complex cata- lyst against deactivation which process comprises treating a hydroformylation reaction product fluid containing a metal› organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand and which also contains one or more phosphorus acidic compounds. with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phospho› rus acidic compounds from said hydroformylation reaction product fluid. 

This invention further relates in part to a process for preventing and/or lessening hydrolytic degradation of an organophosphite ligand and/or deactivation of a metal› organophosphite ligand complex catalyst which process comprises treating a hydroformylation reaction product fluid containing $_{a }$metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand and which also contains one or more phosphorus acidic compounds. with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said hydro› formylation reaction product fluid. 

This invention yet further relates in part to an improved hydroformylation process which comprises reacting one or more olefinic unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of $_{a }$metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more aldehydes, the improvement comprising preventing and/or lessening hydrolytic degradation of any said organo› phosphite ligand and deactivation of said metal› organophosphite ligand complex catalyst by treating at least a portion of said reaction product fluid derived from said hydroformylation process and which also contains phospho› rus acidic compounds formed during said hydroformylation process with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of the phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid. 

This invention also relates in part to an improved hydro› formylation process for producing aldehydes which com› prises (i) reacting in at least one reaction zone one or more olefinic unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of $_{a }$metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more aldehydes and (ii) separating in at least one separation zone or in said at least one reaction zone the one or more aldehydes from said reaction product fluid. the improvement comprising preventing and/or lessening hydrolytic degrada› tion of any said organophosphite ligand and deactivation of $_{said }$metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst by (a) withdrawing from said at least one reaction zone or said at least one separation zone at least a portion of a reaction product fluid derived from said hydroformylation process and which also contains phosphorus acidic compounds formed during said hydroformylation process. (b) treating in at least one scrubber zone at least a portion of the withdrawn reaction product fluid derived from said hydroformylation process and which also contains phosphorus acidic com› pounds formed during said hydroformylation process with 

water sufficient to remove at least some amount of the phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid, and (c) returning the treated reaction product fluid to said at least one reaction zone or said at least one separation zone. 

This invention further relates in part to an improved hydroformylation process for producing aldehydes which comprises (i) reacting in at least one reaction zone one or more olefinic unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of $_{a }$metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more aldehydes and (ii) separating in at least one separation zone or in said at least one reaction zone the one or more aldehydes from said reaction product fluid. the improvement comprising preventing and/or lessening hydrolytic degrada› tion of any said organophosphite ligand and deactivation of said metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst by treating at least a portion of said reaction product fluid derived from said hydroformylation process and which also contains phosphorus acidic compounds formed during said hydroformylation process by introducing water into said at least one reaction zone and/or said at least one separation zone sufficient to remove at least some amount of the phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid. 

## BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 

HG. 1 is a simplified process flow diagram of a process for recovering and returning one or more aldehydes removed by water extraction to the hydroformylation process in accordance with this invention. 

The hydroformylation processes of this invention may be asymmetric or non-asymmetric, the preferred processes being non-asymmetric, and may be conducted in any con› tinuous or semi-continuous fashion and may involve any catalyst liquid and/or gas recycle operation desired. Thus it should be clear that the particular hydroformylation process for producing such aldehydes from an olefinic unsaturated compound, as well as the reaction conditions and ingredients of the hydroformylation process are not critical features of this invention. As used herein, the term "hydroformylation" is contemplated to include, but not limited to, all permissible asymmetric and non-asymmetric hydroformylation pro› cesses which involve converting one or more substituted or unsubstituted oleftnic compounds or a reaction mixture comprising one or more substituted or unsubstituted olefinic compounds to one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehydes or a reaction mixture comprising one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehydes. As used herein, the term "reaction product fluid" is contemplated to include, but not limited to, a reaction mixture containing an amount of any one or more of the following: (a) a metal- organophosphite ligand complex catalyst, (b) free organo› phosphite ligand. (c) one or more phosphorus acidic com› pounds formed in the reaction, (d) aldehyde product formed in the reaction. (e) unreacted reactants. and (f) an organic solubilizing agent for $_{said }$metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and said free organophosphite ligand. The reaction product fluid encompasses, but is not limited to. (a) the reaction medium in the reaction zone. (b) the reaction medium stream on its way to the separation zone, ( c) the reaction medium in the separation zone, (d) the recycle stream between the separation zone and the reaction zone, 

## DEfAILED DESCRIPTION 

