TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The process involves treating the aqueous mass and/or the manufacturing reaction mass with the organic solvent alkyl acetate; separating the resultant organic phase and aqueous phase; distilling the organic phase to obtain pyridine and/or its derivatives, where the organic solvent is additionally recovered by distilling and esterifying the aqueous phase and waste produced during the process; and recycling the organic solvent thus recovered in the process. Preferred Solvent: The solvent is ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate or methyl acetate (preferably ethyl acetate). EXAMPLE - Pyridine (2500 g), beta -picoline aqueous reaction mass (% pyridine: 13.49, % beta -picoline: 5.49, % NH3: 7.80; aliphatic amines, aldehyde and aldehyde based organic impurities, other monoalkyl pyridines, dialkyl pyridines, trialkyl pyridines or other unidentified heavy organic materials) was charged in 5 l round bottom flask. The reaction mass was heated up to 85-95 degrees C till NH3 content in pyridine- beta -picoline reaction mass achieved was less than 1.6%. After NH3 recovery, 2300 g of pyridine, beta -picoline reaction mass was obtained, which was suitable for extraction with ethyl acetate. Fresh ethyl acetate (295 g) and pyridine, beta -picoline aqueous reaction mass (575 g, % pyridine: 14.70, % beta -picoline: 5.93, % NH3: 1.53, aliphatic amines, aldehyde and aldehyde based organic impurities, other monoalkyl pyridines, dialkyl pyridines, trialkyl pyridines or other unidentified heavy organic materials) were charged in a 2 l flask fitted with double surface condenser. The mass was agitated for 30 minutes at room temperature and then it was transferred in a separating funnel for layer separation. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was analyzed for pyridine and beta -picoline content. The aqueous layer and the fresh ethyl acetate (135 g) were recharged and the process was repeated. The pyridine and beta -picoline in aqueous layer was achieved in less than 0.1% after total of 9 extractions.