Abstract: A process for obtaining isobutene from a C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixture containing isobutene, by reacting the mixture with a primary alcohol in the presence of an acid condensing agent and decomposing the resulting tertiary ether in the presence of an acid catalyst at an elevated temperature, wherein a primary C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alcohol is used.

Abstract: 1,3-Butadiene is recovered with the aid of a selective solvent from a C.sub.4 -hydocarbon mixture containing 1,3-butadiene, hydrocarbons which are more soluble in said selective solvent than 1,3-butadiene, including acetylenes and possibly 1,2-butadiene and C.sub.5 -hydrocarbons, and hydrocarbons which are less soluble in said selective solvent than 1,3-butadiene. The C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixture is separated by the use of one or more extractive distilling zones into a distillate containing the less soluble hydrocarbons, a stream consisting of 1,3-butadiene and a stream containing the more soluble hydrocarbons including the higher acetylenes and 1,3-butadiene, the latter stream being subjected to catalytic hydrogenation.