2095. MACLEAN, A. F. (Celanese Corp. of America). Recovery of Oxygenated Compounds. United States Patent 2,545,889, Mar. 20, 1951; appl. filed Nov. 19, 1948, Serial No. 61,001, 9 claims (Cl. 260-452).

Crude mixture of organic compounds, such as methylal, methyl formate, and a minor proportion of methanol, is treated with an aqueous solution of an alkali-metal hydroxide. The methyl formate saponifies to free the methanol and an alkali metal formate. The saponification reaction product is distilled to remove methylal and methanol. Crystalline alkali metal formate is recovered from its aqueous solution. 2 United States patents cited.