Method for working up a mixture comprising at least one alcohol of the general formula (I) R1—CH2—CH2—OH  (I) or at least one branched alcohol of the general formula (II) R1—CH2—CH2—CHR1—CH2—OH  (II), furthermore at least one oil-soluble complex compound of at least one metal of the 8th, 9th or 10th group of the Periodic Table of the Elements, which is selected from complex compounds which have at least one ligand L1 which is at least bidentate, where at least one coordination site of L1 is a nitrogen atom, and at least one acid of the general formula (III) R1—CH2—COOH  (III) in the form of one of its salts, where the groups R1 are selected from C2-C10-alkyl, linear or branched, wherein (a) the mixture is treated with water which can comprise an alkali metal hydroxide, (b) the salt or salts of acid of the general formula (III) are extracted.