Separation of methanol and acetone from mixtures thereof by extractive distillation

摘要

Extractive distillation is a process to separate close-boiling compounds from each other by introducing a selectively-acting third component, the extractive distillation solvent, with the result that the relative volatility of the mixture to be separated is increased and azeotropes, if present, are overcome. The extractive distillation solvent is to be selected such that it does not form an undesired azeotrope with any of the compounds in the mixture. The invention suggests a method of separation of methanol and acetone by distilling a mixture of methanol/acetone by way of an extractive distillation process in the presence of an extractive distillation solvent selected from the group consisting of a secondary amine, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, a brominated hydrocarbon and a paraffin.