Process for separating mixtures of crude, water-containing amines originating from the amine synthesis

Process for the separation of an amine-containing mixture containing one or more amines, water, low boilers and optionally high boilers, with the steps (i) to (v): DOLLAR A (i) optionally distillative separation of a (first) low boiler fraction from the amine-containing mixture, DOLLAR A (ii) optionally distillative separation of a (first) high boiler fraction of the amine-containing mixture, DOLLAR A (iii) extraction of the amine-containing mixture with sodium hydroxide solution to obtain an aqueous, sodium hydroxide-containing first phase and an aqueous-organic, amine, (further) low boilers and optionally (further) second phase containing high boilers,DOLLAR A (iv) distillation of the aqueous-organic second phase to obtain substantially anhydrous amine as bottom draw or side draw in the stripping section of the distillation column, an amine / water azeotrope as side draw in the enrichment section of the column and a (further) low boiler fraction as top hat, and Recycling of the amine / water azeotrope in the extraction step (iii), DOLLAR A (v) optionally further purification or separation of the substantially anhydrous amine.