Process for separating acetaldehyde from mixtures with chloroform, methylene chloride and chlorofuran

In a process for separating acetaldehyde from mixtures with chloroform, methylene chloride and chlorofuran, wherein the mixture to be separated is the side discharge of the side column obtained from the production of acetaldehyde from ethylene and air according to the two-stage process, the improvement comprising the steps of:

• adding to said mixture water in an amount of from the same amount by weight to 15 times that amount, calculated on the amount of said mixture, by continuously introducing the water into a separating vessel having a bottom outlet, at a level above that of the bottom outlet but not higher than 20% of the active separating height of the separating vessel, and by introducing the mixture to be separated at a level above that of the water inlet, thereby producing an acetaldehyde-containing aqueous phase and a phase containing chloroform, methylene chloride and chlorofuran;
• drawing off the phase containing chloroform, methylene chloride and chlorofuran from the bottom outlet;
• and
• continuously drawing off the acetaldehyde-containing aqueous phase from the top.