PROCESS AND FACILITY FOR RECOVERING METHOXYPROPANOLS FROM AN AQUEOUS STREAM

1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol are recovered from an aqueous effluent stream by liquid-liquid-extraction, followed by extractive distillation, distillation of methoxypropanols from the extraction solvent and distillative separation of the methoxypropanol isomers. Recovered extraction solvent is recycled to the extraction and extractive distillation steps. Heat transfer from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation reduces energy demand of the process. A facility for this process comprises a countercurrent extraction column (1), an extractive distillation column (3), a solvent recovery distillation column (4), an isomer separation distillation column (5) and a heat exchanger (8) for transferring heat from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation.