Patent ID: 7122709

Claim:
A method for obtaining ethanol from a feed solution comprising: providing a feed solution comprising water and ethanol; providing an extractant that is immiscible with the feed solution, the extractant comprising a mixture of: at least one alkane; and at least one aliphatic alcohol having the formula wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 7 each independently represent H or a straight chain alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 6 represents a straight chain alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or taken together R 3 and R 6 represent an alkylene group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and m and n independently represent 0, 1, 2, or 3, with the proviso that if R 4 represents H, then at least two of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 , or at least one of R 5 and R 7 , are straight chain alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; contacting the extractant with the feed solution; and at least partially removing ethanol from the extractant.