PATENT

3795.  VAN DER WAALS, J. H.  (N. V. de Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij).  [Separating Hydrocarbons and Oxygenated Derivatives.]  Netherlands Patent 69,028, Dec. 15, 1951.  Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 9584.

Hydrocarbons and O-containing organic compounds, insoluble in H₂O, are separated by treating mixtures containing these substances (for example, obtained in the Fischer-Tropsch process or the Oxo synthesis from CO and olefins) with formic acid, optionally admixed with H₂O.  Preferably, 78% formic acid, which is the maximum azeotropic mixture with H₂O, is used.  For example, from a mixture of paraffinic hydrocarbons containing about 10% MeCOCH₂CHMe₂, the latter is isolated by countercurrent extraction with a mixture of 77.5 wt. % formic acid and 22.5% H₂O.  The yield is 99% and the degree of purity of the ketone is 99%.