Reduction in chemical oxygen demand of water from crude tetrahydrofuran

摘要

A process for reducing the chemical oxygen demand of water removed from a mixture of crude tetrahydrofuran and water, said process comprising contacting said mixture in the vapor phase with a dilute sodium hydroxide solution, then optionally contacting the tetrahydrofuran- water mixture after condensation with a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution and separating water from the thus treated mixture, said water having reduced chemical oxygen demand over water that is removed from said mixture merely by distillation.