39 a sump conduit 80 of the fractionating column 39 is connected to a separator or trap 81 where fuel oil is withdrawn via conduit 82 a pump 83a in a conduit 83 pumps a medium through a conduit 84 and into a pair of conduits 84a and 85 which lead to the heads of the stripping columns 16 and 17 the sump conduits 86 and 87 of the stripping columns 16 and 17 withdraw the pretreated mash which is then pumped into the heads of the distillation columns 14 and 15 by pumps 88 and 89 through conduits 90 and 91 the sump conduits 92 and 93 of the rectification columns 34 and 35 withdraw a medium which is pumped into the heads of the distillation columns 14 and 15 by pumps 94 and 95 via conduits 96 and 97 withdrawing conduits 98 and 99 are connected to the upper portions of the rectification columns 34 and 35 and lead via advancing conduit 100 having a valve 100a to the upper part of the dehydration column 49 two product conduits 101 and 102 with valves 101a and 102a respectively branch from the conduit 100 a sump conduit 104 draws a medium from the cyclohexane stripping column 47 the absolutized ethanol is drawn from the dehydration column 49 via conduit 103 the circuits illustrated herein are characterized by low energy consumption further independent operation of the parallel connected distillation columns 14 and 15 and the parallel connected rectification columns 34 and 35 is possible.