2190. ------. [MCGRATH, H. G.] (M. W. Kellogg Co.). Separation of Organic Compounds. United States Patent 2,596,160, May 13, 1952; appl. filed Jan. 30, 1948, Serial No. 5,333; 20 claims (Cl. 260-450). Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 8354.

Mixture of products formed by the hydrogenation of CO over an alkalized Fe catalyst is freed of hydrocarbons and H₂O by solvent extraction and the residual O-containing compounds (alcohols 51%, aldehydes 6%, ketones 3%, esters 5%, and acids 35%) are hydrogenated over a Cu catalyst at 260° and 3,500 p. s. i. to a mixture of alcohols. Thus the aqueous phase of the original reaction product is extracted with a solvent, such as Et₂O, and the organic (hydrocarbon-rich) phase with aqueous MeOH. The resulting essentially H₂O-and hydrocarbon-free extracts are then combined and hydrogenated; the desired hydrogenation may be accomplished under milder conditions if the mixture of O-containing compounds is subjected to conventional conditions serving to esterify the carboxylic acid components.