Purification of acetonitrile by caustic extraction

A process for removing water and hydrogen cyanide from a crude solution containing acetonitrile, 16-24% by weight water and 1000-20,000 ppm hydrogen cyanide which comprises thoroughly contacting 1-50 parts by volume of said crude solution with 1 part by volume based upon the volume of said crude solution of an aqueous solution consisting essentially of 25-60% by weight of an alkali metal hydroxide selected from the class consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and mixtures thereof at a temperature in the range of 25.degree.-82.5.degree. C., permitting the thus formed mixture to form an organic and aqueous phase, and recovering the organic phase comprising acetonitrile containing essentially no hydrogen cyanide and having decreased amount of water relative to said crude solution.