Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid and recovery of unreacted acetic acid from a weak acid stream. The unreacted acetic acid may be recovered as a dry acetic acid composition and may be directly or indirectly fed to the hydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: A crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid comprises ethanol and ethyl acetate. Using a distillation column operated at a pressure of from 0.1 to 100 kPa, the ethyl acetate and ethanol may be effectively separated. In addition, maintaining the amount of water that is fed to the distillation column to an amount less than 10 wt. %, based on the weight of all components fed to the distillation column, provides an energy benefit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying monomers, by evaporating at least a portion of the monomers present in a starting composition and then condensing it, which is characterized in that at least a portion of the starting composition is evaporated in a short-path evaporator, the mass flow density of the vapours {dot over (m)} being selected according to the relation (I) m . ? 1800 ? kg · K mbar · m 2 · h · kg kmol · p i · ( M ~ T ) 0.5 ( I ) in which {tilde over (M)} is the average molar mass of the vapours in the short-path evaporator in kg/kmol T is the temperature of the vapours in K pi is the pressure in the short-path evaporator in mbar {dot over (m)} is the mass flow density of the vapours in kg/(m2·h). A further aspect of the present invention is a plant for performing the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dividing wall distillation column for producing high-purity n-butanol, and a method for the production of high-purity n-butanol by fractional distillation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method which provides a dividing wall distillation column with crude n-butanol as a feed to perform a fractional distillation of n-butanol, and an apparatus thereof. The dividing wall distillation column of the present invention exhibits the effects of a two distillation column from only one distillation column, thereby reducing energy and the costs of installing the apparatus as compared to conventional distillation systems.

Abstract: A method for recovering base oil from waste lubricating oil by separating base oil range constituents from a waste lubricating oil mixture, thereafter separating higher quality base oil constituents and lower quality base oil constituents from the base oil recovered from the waste lubricating oil mixture and thereafter treating the lower quality base oil constituents to produce marketable base oil. The total base oil produced from a waste lubricating oil mixture by this process is greater than the quantity producible by previous processes using only base oil separation from the waste lubricating oil mixture or processes which use only treatment of the base oil recovered from the waste lubricating oil mixture to produce the product base oil.

Abstract: Systems and processes for recovering alkylene oxide, including an alkylene oxide recovery column including a stripping section located in the column to convert a portion of a feed stream to a gas phase including alkylene oxide; a reabsorption section in the column above the stripping section including a water stream to reabsorb the alkylene oxide in the gas phase portion and to produce an aqueous solution, a first stripping gas to strip carbon dioxide and oxygen from the aqueous solution by converting a portion of the aqueous solution to a gaseous portion, producing an alkylene oxide stream, and a side take-off located at a bottom portion of the reabsorption section for removal of the alkylene oxide stream; a condenser to partially condense the gas phase portion; and a top take-off for removal of a light impurity fraction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are azeotrope and near-azeotrope compositions comprising E-1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene (E-HFC-1225ye) and hydrogen fluoride. The azeotrope and near-azeotrope compositions are useful in processes to produce and in processes to purify E-HFC-1225ye and/or Z-1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene (Z-HFC-1225ye). Also disclosed are processes for the extractive distillation to separate E-HFC-1225ye from Z-HFC-1225ye.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for continuous distillative separation of a mixture comprising one or more alkanolamine(s), wherein the separation is performed in one or more dividing wall column(s) and the alkanolamine or the alkanolamines is/are withdrawn as a side draw stream or side draw streams (side fraction(s)).

Abstract: A process for recovering a purified propane purge comprising fractionating in a first distillation column a feed stream comprising 2 to 10 wt % methanol, 5 to 20 wt % propylene, and 70 to 90 wt % propane thereby producing a first light product stream and a first heavy product stream, the first heavy product stream comprising less than 1.5 wt % propylene, and an amount of methanol that is at least 70 wt % of the methanol present in the first distillation column feed stream; and fractionating the first heavy product stream in a second distillation column at a pressure from 220 to 258 psia, thereby producing a second light product stream and a second heavy product stream, the second light product stream comprising at least 96 wt % propane and less than 1 wt. % methanol, and wherein an amount of propane present in the second light product stream is 20 to 45 wt % of the propane present in the first distillation column feed stream.

Abstract: Disclosed is process for the recovery of HFC-43-10mee from a mixture comprising hydrogen fluoride and HFC-43-10mee, comprising feeding the composition comprising hydrogen fluoride and HFC-43-10mee to a distillation column, subjecting said mixture to a distillation step from which is formed a column distillate composition comprising an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of hydrogen fluoride and HFC-43-10mee, and a column-bottoms composition comprising HFC-43-10mee, condensing said column distillate composition to form two liquid phases, being i) an HFC-43-10mee-rich phase and ii) an HF-rich phase; and separating said two liquid phases.

Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing at least one low olefin from an oxygenate-containing first reaction mixture (11) through conversion by a catalyst (20) to an olefin and paraffin-containing second reaction mixture (21) where the second reaction mixture (21) is flowed through a separation system (300), in which one at least one low olefin-containing first product stream (31) and at least one paraffin-enriched fraction (321) is extracted and where the remaining product stream (322) is at least partially recirculated to the catalyst (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for yielding boron-depleted chlorosilanes from a chlorosilane mixture containing boron by means of separation by distillation of a boron-enriched distillation flow. The invention further relate to a device for yielding boron-depleted chlorosilanes from a chlorosilane mixture containing boron.

Abstract: A method for distilling ethanol from a mash includes feeding a fluid to a first distillation column. The fluid and a distillate of the first distillation column are delivered to a second distillation column. The fed fluid and/or distillate of the second distillation column is/are purified in a first and/or last step of the method by a membrane separation process.

Abstract: A polyolefin production system, comprising a polymerization reactor (such as a polyethylene loop slurry reactor) and a fractionation system that receives reactor effluent processed in a diluent/monomer recovery system for recycle to the reactor and to suppliers. A conduit diverts a portion of a reflux flow comprising monomer, such as ethylene, from within the fractionation system to the polymerization reactor, providing for less venting of monomer, such as ethylene, to the supplier. Accordingly, monomer yield is advantageously increased, as the monomer returned to the reactor displaces monomer feedstock to the reactor. The reflux flow may originate from a condensed overhead lights from a diluent recycle column disposed in the fractionation subsystem. The diluent recycle column may receive a stream comprising diluent and monomer as feed from the diluent/monomer recovery subsystem, and may receive the non-diverted portion of the reflux flow as reflux.

Abstract: A top temperature T1 of a distillation tower 1 is held below a liquefying temperature of a light fraction by returning a part of an exhaust gas W, which is cooled by a condenser 5, to the upper zone of the distillation tower 1. A bottom temperature T2 is raised up to 300° C. at highest by returning a part of a liquid product P from a re-boiler 3 to a lower zone of the distillation tower 1. When a liquid hydrocarbon L comes in countercurrent contact with a stripping gas G inside the distillation tower 1 with the temperature profile that an inner temperature gradually falls down along an upward direction, mercury is efficiently transferred from the liquid L to a vapor phase without effusion of the light fraction in accompaniment with the exhaust gas W.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for distilling and processing chemicals. The apparatus is particularly suited for processing and distilling difficult to distill compounds, and is capable of producing diesel fuel and other products from used oil at a quality level similar to that of products produced from virgin crude oil.

Abstract: Improved processes and apparatus use a finishing column with a mid-cut that provides alkylbenzene products of high purity containing less than about 1 ppmw benzene and less than about 50 ppmw heavies while accommodating enhancements in the efficiencies and the capacities of the distillation train to recover alkylbenzene from alkylation reaction product and while enabling the use of catalytic treatments to reduce olefinic-component content.

Abstract: This invention is an improved distillation sequence for the separation and purification of ethylene from a cracked gas. A hydrocarbon feed enters a C2 distributor column. The top of the C2 distributor column is thermally coupled to an ethylene distributor column, and the bottoms liquid of a C2 distributor column feeds a deethanizer column. The C2 distributor column utilizes a conventional reboiler. The top of the ethylene distributor is thermally coupled with a demethanizer column, and the bottoms liquid of the ethylene distributor feeds a C2 splitter column. The ethylene distributor column utilizes a conventional reboiler. The deethanizer and C2 splitter columns are also thermally coupled and operated at a substantially lower pressure than the C2 distributor column, the ethylene distributor column, and the demethanizer column. Alternatively, a hydrocarbon feed enters a deethanizer column.

Abstract: A mixture comprising at least 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-chloro-2-propene is subjected to a distillation operation, and thereby, a distillate comprising an azeotropic composition consisting substantially of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-chloro-2-propene is obtained and a bottom product comprising 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane or 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-chloro-2-propene which each is separated and purified.

Abstract: A method for effectively preventing polymerization of acrylic acid during an azeotropic dehydration distillation in an acrylic acid manufacturing process and thus enabling stable operation of the azeotropic dehydration column over an extended period of time. The acrylic acid is separated in an azeotropic dehydration column from an acrylic acid aqueous solution fed therein, and the method includes withdrawing from the bottom of the azeotropie dehydration column a bottom effluent containing 50% or more of glyoxal (including the hydrates thereof) contained in the acrylic acid aqueous solution fed into the azeotropic dehydration column.

Abstract: A process produces ?-caprolactone by the oxidation of cyclohexanone by feeding a crude reaction mixture to a first distillation column; distilling off a first distillate containing low boiling components including unreacted cyclohexanone from the top of the first distillation column; recovering a first side-cut fraction containing unreacted cyclohexanone in a higher concentration than in the first distillate from an intermediate tray; recovering a first bottom liquid containing high boiling components including ?-caprolactone from the bottom; introducing the first side-cut fraction to a second distillation column; recovering a second bottom liquid containing unreacted cyclohexanone from the bottom of the second distillation column; recycling the second bottom liquid into the raw material cyclohexanone; introducing the first bottom liquid to a third distillation column to thereby yield a third distillate containing ?-caprolactone from the third distillation column.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes for the production of tocotrienol compounds from biological sources such as palm oil, cereals, grains, and grain oils. The tocotrienol products are recovered in high yields. These tocotrienols are useful as pharmaceuticals, in foodstuffs and as dietary supplements. These compositions are hypocholesterolemic, antioxidizing, antithrombotic, antiatherogenic, antiinflammatory and immunoregulatory in nature. Tocotrienols are known to lower the levels of low density lipoproteins in the bloodstream.

Abstract: A process is disclosed of separating 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol from aqueous compositions, by dewatering of the aqueous composition containing 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol to a concentration of 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol of at least 90 percent by weight in total and isolation of 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 2-methoxy-1-propanol or mixtures thereof by distillation.

Abstract: A process for the purification of toluenediisocyanate by fractionating a crude distillation feed containing toluenediisocyante, an organic solvent and less than 2% by weight of phosgene in a heat integrated system having an upstream distillation column, an interchanger and a downstream distillation column which are connected in series. The vapor which is recovered from the upstream distillation column is used to reboil the bottoms product of the downstream distillation column or the feed to the downstream distillation column in the interchanger. The crude distillation feed comprising less than 2% by weight of phosgene is fractionated into three product fractions P1-P3 and optionally a fourth fraction P4. P1 is a noncondensible gas stream enriched with phosgene and/or low-boilers. P2 is a solvent -enriched product. P3 is a high boiler enriched bottoms product comprising toluenediisocyanate, and P4 is a toluenediisocyanate enriched stream lean in highboilers and reaction residues.

Abstract: Process for the production of a hydrofluoroalkane, according to which hydrofluoroalkane comprising organic impurities is subjected to at least two distillations.

Abstract: Provided are azeotropic and azeotrope-like mixtures of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) and 1-chloro-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HCFC-235fa) that are useful as intermediates in the production of HFC-245fa. A process for separating HFC-245fa and HCFC-235fa is also provided. HFC-245fa is useful as a nontoxic, zero ozone depleting fluorocarbon useful as solvents, blowing agents, refrigerants, cleaning agents, aerosol propellants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing compositions and power cycle working fluids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying acetonitrile from low grade acetonitriles. Low grade acetonitrile from DNA synthesis, HPLC and pharmaceutical drug manufacturing process wastes which comprise acetonitrile, a first set of impurities having a lower boiling temperature than acetonitrile and a second set of impurities having a boiling temperature greater than acetonitrile are processed to produce a purified acetonitrile by first introducing the low grade acetonitrile into a first distillation column and separating the acetonitrile and first set of impurities from the second set of impurities, the acetonitrile and first set of impurities being drawn as a vapor from the first distillation column, the second set of impurities being produced as the first distillation column bottoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fractionation process of the unsaponifiable material derived from black-liquor soaps of the cellulose industry. Through this procedure fractions that essentially contain free sterols, fatty alcohols, sterol esters and fatty alcohol esters respectively are separated. Fractions containing sterols or fatty alcohols can be used as such in the alimentary, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries or they can be used as raw materials for transforming into other useful products.

Abstract: A method for obtaining high purity N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone satisfactory for use as an intermediate material for N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone from a reaction liquid formed of a reaction between y-butyrolactone and 2-aminoethanol, i.e., a liquid containing N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone, compounds having boiling points lower than that of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone and compounds having boiling points higher than that of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone. The method is characterized by distilling said reaction liquid using a distillation column, whereby obtaining a liquid containing the compounds having the lower boiling points than that of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone as a distillate liquid from the column top and a liquid containing compounds having boiling points higher than that of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidone as a bottom liquid.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing high purity, food grade CO2 and recovering valuable BTEX fuel from hydrocarbon mixtures such as from a natural gas well. The method involves dehydrating the hydrocarbon mixture and separating the dehydrated mixture into gas and liquid phases, followed by further separation of the liquid phase to produce the BTEX fuel and condensation and distillation of the vapor phase to produce the high purity CO2. The BTEX fuel is recovered at the temperature and pressure that meets specifications for transportation and storage of gasoline, facilitating its sale to market, and the high purity CO2 is produced is produced as liquid CO2 for storage and transportation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying acetonitrile from low grade acetonitriles. Low grade acetonitrile from DNA synthesis, HPLC and pharmaceutical drug manufacturing process wastes which comprise acetonitrile, a first set of impurities having a lower boiling temperature than acetonitrile and a second set of impurities having a boiling temperature greater than acetonitrile are processed to produce a purified acetonitrile by first introducing the low grade acetonitrile into a first distillation column and separating the acetonitrile and first set of impurities from the second set of impurities, the acetonitrile and first set of impurities being drawn as a vapor from the first distillation column, the second set of impurities being produced as the first distillation column bottoms.

Abstract: A method is provided for industrially advantageously and effectively separating 4M2B and 3M6B from a t-butylcresol mixture containing 2-t-butyl-4-methylphenol (4M2B), 2-tbutyl-5-methylphenol (3M6B), compounds having a lower boiling point than that of 4M2B and compounds having a higher boiling point than that of 3M6B derived from a m,p-cresol mixture.

Abstract: Cyclohexene is separated from a mixture of cyclohexene and at least one of cyclohexane and benzene by subjecting the mixture to extractive distillation in the presence of an extraction solvent the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each is a C.sub.1-10 alkyl group or hydrogen, and n is an integer of from 2-4, thereby preparing a fraction rich in cyclohexene.

Abstract: A purification process for cyclic formals, in which water is efficiently removed from a crude cyclic formal, namely, a mixture of a cyclic formal and water which is difficult to be separated from the mixture, thereby obtaining a cyclic formal of high purity which contains only a very small amount of water.The purification process for cyclic formals is characterized by the following two purification steps:(1) Supplying a mixture of a cyclic formal and water into a distillation tower at a supply position, and effecting distillation while supplying a hydrophilic solvent (A) having a boiling point from 180.degree. to 250.degree. C. at a position higher than the supply position of the mixture to take out a cyclic formal (X) containing 100 to 5000 ppm of water as a distillate, and(2) Distilling the cyclic formal (X) obtained in step (1) or treating it with a dehydrant to obtain a purified cyclic formal (Y) which contains less water than in the cyclic formal (X).

Abstract: The invention is a process for reducing capital and energy costs in ethylene recovery. Moderate pressure processing and thermally coupled fractionation steps are achieved through the use of integrator columns. Ethylene separation from cracked gas originating from ethane through gas oil feeds can now be done with thermodynamically efficient fractionation at capital cost competitive with low efficiency designs. Acetylene hydrogenation may be done before demethanization where desired, and dephlegmation is preferred to accomplish high-efficiency rectification of hydrogen and methane from ethylene. Open loop heat pumps can optionally be incorporated into the ethane/ethylene splitter fractionation step, whose desirability is controlled by optimization of capital and energy costs.

Abstract: A process for purifying acetic acid which comprises: introducing a feedstock aqueous solution of acetic acid having an acetic acid concentration of from 10 to 50% by weight into an extractor; supplying an extracting medium containing isopropyl acetate in an amount from 0.6 to 3.

Abstract: A method of making a personalized children's storybook using preprinted books and inserting stickers containing personalized data to create a personalized book.

Abstract: A method for the production of an industrial diluent which includes the steps of heating a liquid waste from a facility that manufactures coatings, inks, lacquers, adhesives, or dyes in a mixer-reactor to generate a vapor, flowing the vapor into a distillation column, distilling the vapor to form distillation components, and transferring each component to a tank designated for such component. The method may include the additional steps of mixing at least two of the components in a predetermined amount, and thoroughly mixing the liquid waste during the heating step. The heating step is preferably effected by applying heat substantially uniformly to the liquid waste.

Abstract: A process for the separation of amyl acetate, a high boiling point solvent from various high boiling point corrosive impurities, namely, bromoethyl acetate, in an industrial setting to allow for reuse through continuous recycling thereof.

Abstract: Crude propylene oxide is purified by a distillation process wherein it is (a) extractively distilled in a first column using a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkylene glycol extractive distillation agent to form a first overhead fraction comprising propylene oxide, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 hydrocarbons, methanol, water and oxygen-containing impurities, (b) wherein the first overhead fraction is separated in a plurality of intermediate distillation columns to provide an intermediate propylene oxide overhead fraction consisting essentially of propylene oxide and water, and (c) the intermediate propylene oxide overhead fraction is charged to a final distillation column using a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkylene glycol extractive distillation agent to form a final overhead fraction consisting essentially of propylene oxide.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaporative concentration of a liquid sample comprises a housing including an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a concentrator flask, a reflex tube and a vortex tube. The concentrator flask includes an upper solution vessel section and a lower cold finger section, and the flask is arranged within the housing with the solution vessel section positioned in the upper chamber and the cold finger section positioned in the lower chamber. The reflex tube is arranged at the upper end of the concentrator flask. The vortex tube has a cold air outlet connected with an inlet to the lower chamber of the housing and a hot air outlet connected with an inlet to the upper chamber of the housing. The apparatus is employed to concentrate a liquid sample contained in the concentrator flask with the temperatures of the cold and hot air from the vortex tube being sufficient to induce the evaporative separation of samples.

Abstract: A process for separating an aromatic from a mixture containing also nonaroma includes distilling off the nonaromatics from the top of the extractive distillation column as a top product, drawing the aromatic and selective solvent from the extractive distillation column and subsequently separating the selective solvent from the aromatic in a separator column. The extractive distillation column is provided with a separate top product distillation column for recovery of a selective solvent residue from the separated nonaromatics. The entry hydrocarbon mixture is heated prior to admission to the extractive distillation column by an indirect heat exchange with selective solvent drawn from the separator column and heated to a temperature of from 130.degree. to 150.degree. C.The heated entry hydrocarbon mixture is depressurized to form a liquid phase and a vapor phase and these phases are separately fed into the extractive distillation column, the vapor phase entry point being below the liquid phase entry point.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the recover of a solvent used in the production of a polyarylene sulfide according to which the deterioration of the solvent is low and the recovery rate is high, wherein a mixed liquid, mainly composed of the solvent used in the production of the polyarylene sulfide, and generated from the process of producing the polyarylene sulfide, is subjected to a flash evaporating operation to separate the mixed liquid into a flashed vapor (A) and a flashed residue (B), and then the flashed vapor is rectified (A).

Abstract: An extractive distillation process for separation ethers (in particular methyl t-butyl ether or ethyl t-butyl ether), aliphatic hydrocarbons (in particular isobutane and/or isobutene) and alcohols (in particular methanol or ethanol) employs as solvent sulfolane(s) and/or dialkyl sulfone(s), or N-(.beta.-mercaptoalkyl)-2-pyrrolidone(s), or a mixture of N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone(s) and either sulfolane(s) or glycol compound(s).

Abstract: An alcohol such as methanol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid reaction medium containing a rhodium catalyst stabilized with an iodide salt, especially lithium iodide, along with alkyl iodide such as methyl iodide and alkyl acetate such as methyl acetate in specified proportions. With a finite concentration of water in the reaction medium the product is the carboxylic acid instead of, for example, the anhydride. The present reaction system not only provides an acid product of unusually low water content at unexpectedly favorable reaction rates but also, whether the water content is low or, as in the case of prior-art acetic acid technology, relatively high, is characterized by unexpectedly high catalyst stability; i.e., it is resistant to catalyst precipitation out of the reaction medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for obtaining an aroma concentrate that is enriched in lactones. The present invention is particularly concerned with a process for concentrating lactones from a distillate obtained by the distillative deacidification of a fat composition rich in lauric acid residues, said distillate containing at least 0.1 wt. % of lactones having 6-20 carbon atoms, by subjecting the distillate or a fraction thereof to a fractional distillation so as to obtain a fraction containing at least 1 wt. % of lactones having 6-20 carbon atoms.The present invention offers a commercially and technically attractive route for obtaining natural lactones.Other aspects of the present invention are a lactone concentrate obtainable by the above process, the use of such a concentrate for flavoring food products and to food products flavored by such a lactone concentrate.

Abstract: Purified propylene oxide is recovered from an impure propylene oxide feedstock contaminated with more than 50 ppm of six carbon atom hydrocarbon impurities by a solvent extraction process wherein:an impure propylene oxide feedstock is charged to a liquid/liquid extraction zone and contacted therein with an extractant consisting essentially of water and a paraffinic hydrocarbon containing 8 to 10 carbon atoms, and resolved therein into a raffinate consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of propylene oxide and into an extract comprising the paraffinic hydrocarbon and the 6 carbon atom impurities initially present in the propylene oxide feedstock.

Abstract: Methyl formate is removed from impure propylene oxide by contacting the impure propylene oxide in a treating zone with a basic ion exchange resin for a period of time sufficient to convert the methyl formate to formic acid and methanol, and by withdrawing a substantially methyl formate-free treated propylene oxide product from the treating zone.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a substantially dry alcohol from a mixture comprising alcohol and water in a non-azeotropic amount by utilizing at least a portion of the alcohol in the mixture as the stripping medium.

Abstract: A process for the separation of propylene glycol from a mixture of low-boiling fatty alcohols and propylene glycol which comprises extracting the mixture with water to produce a water-propylene glycol mixture and fractionating the water-propylene glycol mixture to produce propylene glycol that is substantially anhydrous and an apparatus for carrying out the process.