The present invention relates to a continuous hydroformylation process for the
production of an aldehyde by hydroformylation of an olefin which comprises: providing
a hydroformylation zone containing a charge of a liquid reaction medium having
dissolved therein a rhodium hydroformylation catalyst comprising rhodium in combination
with carbon monoxide and a ligand; supplying the olefin to the hydroformylation
zone; maintaining temperature and pressure conditions in the hydroformylation zone
conducive to hydroformylation of the olefin; recovering from the liquid hydroformylation
medium a hydroformylation product comprising aldehyde; recovering from the hydroformylation
zone a stream comprising the rhodium catalyst; contacting at least a portion of
the stream with a solid acidic absorbent under process conditions which allow at
least some of the rhodium to become bound to the absorbent; subjecting the rhodium
bound to the absorbent, under process conditions which allow desorption of the
metal, to a fluid stripping medium comprising hydrogen and solvent; recovering
the rhodium hydride catalyst; and recycling the rhodium hydride catalyst to the
hydroformylation zone.