Method for the separation of a heterogeneous mixture of compounds

Claim 1

IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN INTO A PRODUCT MIXTURE COMPRISING NORMALLY LIQUID HYDROCARBONS, WATER AND OXYGEN-CONTAINING ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, SUCH AS ALCOHOLS, ALDEHYDES, KETONES, ESTERS, AND ACIDS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES SEPARATING SAID PRODUCT MIXTURE INTO A LIQUID HYDROCARBONRICH PHASE AND A WATER-RICH PHASE AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 175 AND 300* F. AND AT A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN SUBSTANTIALLY LIQUID PHASE CONDITIONS, SUBJECTING SAID WATERRICH PHASE TO COUNTER-CURRENT EXTRACTION WITH A HYDROCARBON SOLVENT AT A TEMPERATURE OF 175 TO 300* F. AND AT A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN SUBSTANTIALLY LIQUID PHASE CONDITIONS, COMBINING THE EXTRACT PHASE FROM SAID EXTRACTION WITH SAID HYDROCARBON-RICH PHASE, SUBJECTING SAID COMBINED EXTRACT AND HYDROCARBON-RICH PHASES TO CONTACT WITH AMMONIA AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 175 TO 300* F. AND AT A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN SUBSTANTIALLY LIQUID PHASE CONDITIONS, THEREBY FORMING HYDROCARBON-INSOLUBLE AMMONIC COMPLEXES AND AMMONIA SALTS OF ORGANIC ACIDS, SEPARATING A COMPOSITE COMPRISING SAID ALDEHYDE-AMMONIA COMPLEXES AND SAID AMMONIUM SALTS FROM SAID COMBINED PHASES AND REGENERATING ALDEHYDES SUBSTANTIALLY IN MONOMERIC FORM FROM SAID COMPOSITE.