US Patent 7781620 Hydroformylation process

A hydroformylation process comprising reacting, in a reactor system comprising one or more feed streams, a reaction environment and an output stream, a feedstock composition comprising a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of an organophosphine modified cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation process is carried out in the reaction environment, which comprises at least two reaction zones, wherein the at least two reaction zones comprise an earlier reaction zone and a later reaction zone, wherein the temperature of the later reaction zone is at a temperature which is at least 2° C. greater than the temperature in the earlier reaction zone, and the temperature of the later reaction zone is in the range of from 140° C. to 220° C., and the temperature of the earlier reaction zone is at least 130° C., and wherein water is added into the reactor system.