Methyl　propionate-methanol　binary　azeotrope　is　separated　by　using　extractive　distillation　process　with　phenol　being　screened　as　an　extractant.　The　separation　process　is　simulated　through　steady　state　Aspen　Plus　software.　The　effects　of　theoretical　plate　numbers,　feed　locations,　reflux　ratios　and　solvent　ratios　of　both　towers　on　the　mass　content　of　tower-top　products　and　the　energy　consumption　of　reboilers　are　analyzed　in　detail　through　single　factor　optimization.　The　optimal　parameters　for　the　extractive　distillation　tower　are　obtained　as　follows:number　of　theoretical　plate　is　32,azeotrope　is　fed　at　the　16th　plate,　phenol　is　fed　at　the　6th　plate,　reflux　ratio　is　1.4,solvent　ratio　is　1.3　and　the　mass　fraction　of　methanol　at　the　top　of　tower　can　reach　99.9%.The　optimal　parameters　for　the　solvent　recovery　tower　are　as　follows:number　of　theoretical　plate　is　24,feed　is　at　the　6th　plate,　reflux　ratio　is　1.3　and　the　mass　fraction　of　methyl　propionate　at　the　top　of　tower　can　reach　99.9%.Moreover,this　continuous　extractive　distillation　process　is　verified　to　be　feasible　through　experiments　based　on　the　simulation　and　optimization.　Finally,　the　engineering　design　for　a　company＇s　5　600　ton/year　methyl　propionate-methanol　mixture　separation　process　is　carried　out,which　can　supply　basis　for　separation　of　binary　azeotrope.　©　2018,　China　National　Chemical　Information　Center.　All　right　reserved.