Abstract: Ethanol is concentrated from ethanol-water mixtures by extraction or extractive distillation with a solvent which is a cyclic ketone of at least seven carbons or cyclic alcohol of at least eight carbons such a cyclohexylcyclohexanone or cyclohexylcyclohexanol. In the extractive distillation process, a first overheads is produced which can be made to be steam with minimal ethanol content and a second overhead is produced which can be made to be essentially pure ethanol. The preferred solvents are also non-toxic, such that the alcohol can be used for human consumption.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating low molecular weight alcohols, especially ethanol, from aqueous mixtures. The process involves subjecting alcohol-water mixtures to extraction and/or extractive distillation procedures. Extractive solvents useful for the process of this invention include phenols having at least six carbon atoms and a boiling point between about 180.degree. C. and about 350.degree. C.

Abstract: An extractive distillation process is provided for the separation of phenol and/or cresol from mixtures with high boiling oxygenated compounds such as alkanols, alkanones, cycloalkanones, cycloalkanols, aryl alcohols, aryl ketones or mixtures thereof that have a boiling point of at least about 175.degree. C. The process involves distilling the phenol and/or cresol-high boiling oxygenated compound mixture in the presence of at least one extractive solvent comprising a substituted phenol and/or substituted cresol that has a boiling point between about 195.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A process in which a mixture including phenol, cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol is fed to a point intermediate the top and bottom of a distillation column, an overhead stream comprising cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol is withdrawn from a point adjacent the top of the column and a bottoms stream comprising phenol is withdrawn from adjacent the bottom of the column. By feeding additional cyclohexanone to a point below where the mixture is fed, the cyclohexanone content of the bottoms is reduced. The process is useful in separating chemicals used in producing cyclohexanone from phenol for manufacturing caprolactam, a polyamide monomer, or for other purposes.

Abstract: A process for separating the constituents of azeotropic mixtures of acetone and other lower ketones from lower halogenated hydrocarbons. Water is added to the azeotropic mixture of acetone and the lower halogenated hydrocarbon for breaking up of the azeotrope, and the halogenated halohydrocarbon is distilled off.

Abstract: An extractive distillation process for separating one or more members of the group consisting of alkanols, alkanones, cycloalkanols and/or cycloalkanones from mixtures with phenol and/or cresol. One or more members of the group consisting of alkylated or unmodified cycloalkyl or aryl-derivatives of cyclohexanone or cyclohexanol having up to about 22 carbon atoms are employed as extractive solvent.