2014. LAUER, G. G., AND PRATT, R. S. (M. W. Kellogg Co.). Separation of Iron From Hydrocarbons. United States Patent 2,540,129, Feb. 6, 1951; appl. filed Oct. 31, 1947, Serial No. 783,450; 4 claims, (Cl. 196-44). Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 2272.

Fe is separated from mixtures, containing it, a hydrocarbon, and a carbonyl, produced in the catalytic hydrogenation of C oxides by treating the mixture with an aqueous solution containing about 1-40 wt. % NaHSO₃ to produce a ferruginous sulfite without reacting with the carbonyl and separating the sulfite solution from the mixture. Example: 2 1. of a mixture comprising C₄ and higher hydrocarbons and H₂O-insoluble oxygenated organic compounds in minor amounts was found to contain 0.152 wt. % Fe as Fe₂O₃. The mixture was agitated for 5 min. with 400 ml. of a 5% by wt. aqueous solution of Na₂SO₃. After settling, the lower aqueous phase containing Fe₂ (SO₄)₃ was withdrawn, and the upper oil phase was again treated with 20% of its volume of the same solution. After a total of 5 washes the oil was found to contain 0.002% Fe as Fe₂O₃.