Separating funnel extractions of ethanolic solutions of esters and alcohols using pentane showed preferential removal of esters. Trichlorofluoromethane was less selective and ether showed no selectivity at all. The amounts of both alcohols and esters extracted by an equal volume of pentane decreased with increase in ethanol concentration, this decrease being most marked for alcohols. Increase in the amounts of components extracted by a fixed volume of solvent would, however, generally be expected from concentrating ethanolic solutions. Similar extractions, using pentane showed continuous extractors generally to be more efficient. Recoveries, and the ability to extract esters selectively in the presence of alcohols, were dependent not only on the ethanol concentration but also on the degree of purification imposed on the recycling solvent. The selective nature of pentane was lost in the process of increasing efficiency.
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Williams et al. (1973) studied this question.