Method for purification of amyl alcohols

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF N-PENTANOL FROM MIXTURES CONTAINING 2-METHYL-1-BUTANOL, 3-METHYL-1-BUTANOL AND KETONES WHEREIN SOME OF SAID KETONES AZEOTROPE WITH N-PENTANOL AND SOME AZEOTROPEWITH 2-METHYL-1-BUTANOL AND 3-METHYL-1-BUTANOL, THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISE SUBJECTING SAID MIXTURE TO DISTILLATION, COLLECTING A FRACTION BOILING FROM ABOUT 121*C. TO ABOUT 139*C., CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF N-PENTANOL, 2-METHYL-1-BUTANOL, 3-METHYL-1-BUTANOL AND SAID KETONES, THEREAFTER SUBJECTING THE FRACTION THUS COLLECTED TO DISTILLATION IN THE PRESENCE OF AT LEAST SUFFICIENT WATER TO FORM AZEOTROPES WITH ALL OF SAID 2-METHYL-1-BUTANOL, 3-METHYL-1-BUTANOL AND SAID KETONES, SAID CONTINUING THE DISTILLATION UNTIL THE KETONE CONTENT OF THE ORGANIC PRODUCT LAYER BEING COLLECTED IS NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 2 WEIGHT PER CENT TO THEREBY OBTAIN A BOTTOMS FRACTION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF N-PENTANOL FREE FROM SAID KETONES, 2-METHYL-1-BUTANOL AND 3-METHYL1-BUTANOL.