Separation of 3-pentanone from formic acid by extractive distillation

摘要

3-Pentanone cannot be completely removed from 3-pentanone and formic acid mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the maximum azeotrope. 3-Pentanone can be readily removed from 3-pentanone-formic acid mixtures by extractive distillation in which the extractive agent is cyclopentanone, either alone or admixed with certain high boiling organic compounds. Examples of effective agents are cyclopentanone; cyclopentanone and 2-methoxyethyl ether; cyclopentanone, adiponitrile and octanoic acid.