Extraction of aliphatic alcohols

A method of extracting an aliphatic alcohol containing 5 to 16 carbon atoms, from an aqueous medium, the method comprising:

• (a) contacting the aliphatic alcohol in the aqueous medium with at least one extracting medium for a time sufficient to extract the aliphatic alcohol from the aqueous medium into the extracting medium;
• (b) separating the extracting medium with the extracted aliphatic alcohol from the aqueous medium;
• wherein:
• the extracting medium comprises at least one trialkyl-phosphine-oxide and at least one alkane comprising 12 to 18 carbon atoms and wherein the weight ratio of the trialkyl-phosphine-oxide to alkane is between 1:100 to 1:10;
• the aqueous medium is a fermentation medium in which the aliphatic alcohol is produced from a carbon source by contacting the carbon source with one or more microorganisms;
• and
• after step b), the fermentation medium is recycled to step a).