Separation of alkyl alcohols from alkyldimethylamines

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Suitable alkyldimethylamines for use in my process contain from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.
More suitably the alkyl group contains 10 to 14 carbon atoms, while preferably it contains 12 to 14 carbon atoms.
The alkyl group can be straight or branched-chain.
The alkyldimethylamines can include mixtures wherein the alkyl group conforms to the designated number of carbon atoms.
The alcohols which are present in the alcoholalkyldimethylamine mixture used in my process contain from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more suitably from 10 to 14 carbon atoms, and preferably from 12 to 14 carbon atoms.
The alkyl groups can be branched- or straight-chain.
Mixtures of alcohols containing the designated number of carbon atoms are suitable.
The alkyl group, or groups, of the alcohols can be different, i.
e.
number of carbon atoms, from the alkyl groups in the alkyldimethylamines.
The alkyldimethylamine-alcohol mixture can have an amine to alcohol ratio, on a volume basis, of about 98:2 to 2:98.
On the same basis, preferably the amine to alcohol ratio is in the range of about 9:1 to 1:9.
Suitable polar solvents are dimethylformamide and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol.
Any nonpolar solvent immiscible with the polar solvent is suitable.
The more suitable nonpolar solvents are linear or cyclic saturated hydrocarbons containing five to nine carbon atoms.
The preferred nonpolar solvents are linear saturated hydrocarbons containing five to seven carbon atoms.
The preferred ratio of polar to nonpolar solvent is in the range of about 0.
9:1 to about 1.
4:1 on a volume basis.
Ratios of polar to nonpolar solvent in the range of about 4:1 to about 1:4 are suitable provided the solvents are still immiscible.
In conducting our process the ratio of solvent to solute on a volume basis is in the range of about 2:1 to about 50:1.
The temperature and pressure at which my process is conducted is not critical.
Usually the process is conducted at ambient conditions.
The alcohol can be recovered from the polar solvent by distillation