Metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieves and metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst particles are protecting from degradation by water by maintaining said molecular sieves or catalysts in contact with a liquid mixture of alcohol and water, the mixture of alcohol and water containing from 45 wt % to 99.8 wt % alcohol. The metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieves and metalloaluminophosphate molecular sieve catalyst particles which have been protected in such fashion catalyze the conversion of feedstocks to hydrocarbons.