3853.  WADLEY, E. F. (Standard Oil Development Co.). Method for Removing Oxygenated Organic Compounds From Hydrocarbons United States Patent 2,494,371, Jan. 10, 1950; appl. filed Oct. 17, 1947, Serial No. 780,504; 2 claims (Cl. 196-41).

The following example illustrates the invention. Product from CO:H₂ synthesis using Fe catalyst was washed with aqueous NaOH solution. The solution was then distilled to obtain a fraction b. 85°-450° F., representing about 74% of the treated naphtha. 3 vol. of the distilled fraction was agitated for 1 hr. with 2 vol. of a MeOH-KOH solution containing 106 gm. KOH per 1. MeOH at 350° F. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature, > 85° F. On cooling, the mixture separated into 2 phases, hydrocarbon and alcoholic. The hydrocarbon phase represented 83% by vol. of the distilled naphtha. This was washed with H₂O and distilled to give 91% yield as an overhead fraction, the remainder being a high boiling polymer boiling above 450° F. The alcoholic phase was diluted with H₂O to form aqueous solution containing 80-83% MeOH. This solution separated into hydrocarbon and aqueous alcoholic layers. The hydrocarbon layer was with drawn, H₂O washed and distilled to give a fraction corresponding to 95 vol. % overhead, the remainder again being a heavy polymer outside the boiling range of the original naphtha. The 2 hydrocarbon fractions were separately extracted with aqueous MeOH (80 vol. %). The extracted oils were washed with H₂O and blended. The amount of oxygenated organic compounds had been reduced to a negligible figure. 3 United States patents cited.