Separation process for the production of C5 or C6 alkanediol

A process for separating a C5 or C6 alkanediol from a crude product stream comprising the C5 or C6 alkanediol and heavy contaminants comprising one or more of a C10 or C12 linear ester, or a C10 or C12 cyclic acetal or ketal, the process comprising:

• feeding the crude product stream to a separation system comprising a first distillation zone, to which the crude product stream is fed and from which the heavy contaminants are removed in a heavies stream taken as a bottom stream, and a second distillation zone, in which the C5 or C6 alkanediol is separated from a reaction product, comprising one or more of a C5 or C6 cyclic ester, or a C5 or C6 aldehyde, formed in the first distillation zone and from which the C5 or C6 alkanediol is withdrawn in a refined product stream,
• wherein the first and second distillation zones are contained within a single column, the second distillation zone being separated from the first distillation zone by a baffle that starts at the bottom of the column and extends above both a feed point where the crude product stream is fed to the first distillation zone and a withdrawal point where the refined product stream is withdrawn from the second distillation zone.