A process that can be used for producing an alkali metal alcoholate such as sodium alcoholate or for removing a residual mixture containing alkali metal and alkaline earth metal from a vessel such as, for example, a tank car or storage tank used in manufacturing an alkali metal is disclosed. The process comprises contacting a mixture, which comprises an alkali metal and an alkaline earth metal, with an alcohol under a condition sufficient to produce an alkali metal alcoholate and alkaline earth metal alcoholate and, optionally, separating and recovering the alkali metal alcoholate.