3  5,744,649  4  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,  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  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.  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  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  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.  This  invention  also  relates  in  part  to  a  process  for  stabi› 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.  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.  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.  BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  DRAWING  DEfAILED  DESCRIPTION 