NO752507L

In the production of hydrazine wherein aqueous ammonia is oxidized in the presence of a ketone to form an aqueous solution containing at least one of a hydrazone and a ketazine along with ammonia, the hydrazone and ketazine are concentrated and the hydrazone and ketazine are subsequently hydrolyzed to hydrazine and ketone, the improvement which comprises effecting the concentration of the hydrazone and ketazine by extracting the aqueous solution with a substantially water-immiscible organic solvent whereby the hydrazone and ketazine preferentially enter the water-immiscible solvent, and separating the water-immiscible solvent extract from the aqueous solution. The organic solvent is preferably a higher alcohol, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, benzene or a substitution product thereof. The organic solvent extract, in one or more stages, and optionally with addition of ketone, can be re-extracted with water, hydrolyzed with aqueous acid or subjected to distillation to separate the hydrazine values from the organic solvent.