METHOD FOR OBTAINING ETHANOL A method for obtaining ethanol from a feed solution utilizes an extractant comprising a mixture of at least one alkane and at least one aliphatic alcohol having the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R7 eac independently represent H or a straight chain alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R6 represents a straight chain alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or taken together R3 and R6 represent an alkylene group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and m and n independently represent 0, 1, 2, or 3, with the proviso that if R4 represents H, then at least two of Rl, R2, and R3, or at least one of R5andR7, are straight chain alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.