Hydroformylation

In a process for the production of aldehydes and alcohols by contacting olefins of the group of C.sub.11 -C.sub.14 alpha olefins with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a hydroformylation zone at a temperature of about 100.degree. to about 300.degree. C. under a pressure of 1 to 200 psig in the presence of a cobalt catalyst consisting of cobalt in complex combination with carbon monoxide and a tertiary organo-phosphine to form a product phase containing unreacted olefins, paraffins, saturated aldehydes and alcohols, catalyst residue and heavy end;

• which are separated, the improvement whereby said separation is effected by the steps of metering said phase to a thin film evaporating zone, mechanically forming a thin film of said phase on a heated surface;
• continuously wiping said film on said surface at a temperature range of 200.degree. to 250.degree. C for an exposure time for said residue of 5 to 55 seconds thereby separating a distillate containing unreacted olefins, paraffins, aldehydes and alcohols, from said catalyst residue and heavy end;
• fractionating said distillate to separate the components thereof and directly recycling at least a part of said residue to said hydroformylation zone.