Ensuiko Sugar Refining Co., Ltd.

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Japan Organo Co., Ltd.

Other

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Director General Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Bio Research Corporation of Yokohama

Isamu Uemasu

Yosuke Takagi

Hideki Takahashi

Makoto Chiwa

Kozo Hara

In a reaction system having at least two liquid-liquid interfaces between an organic phase of raw material containing a compound(s) to be separated and an aqueous phase of an aqueous solution of inclusion-complexing agent and between that aqueous phase and an organic phase(s) of extraction solvent(s), the compound(s) to be separated is entrapped into the aqueous phase through formation of an inclusion complex(es) of the inclusion-complexing agent with the compound(s), while the compound(s) is entrapped into the organic phase(s) of extraction solvent(s) through dissociation of said inclusion complex(es). The foregoing operation is performed using, for example, a squarish U-shaped tube or an H-shaped tube with bottom plates. Preferred examples of inclusion-complexing agent include highly water-soluble branched cyclodextrins.

Method and equipment for continuous and selective inclusion separation

A mixture of xylene isomers or a mixture of a xylene isomer(s) and ethylbenzene is brought into contact with at least one specific substituted .alpha.-cyclodextrin to form an inclusion complex(es) of the substituted .alpha.-cyclodextrin with a xylene isomer or ethylbenzene included therein, from which the xylene isomer(s) and/or ethylbenzene is then extracted to isolate, or separate, the same. Inclusion-complexing agents usable in isolation, or separation, of the xylene isomer(s) and/or ethylbenzene are substituted .alpha.-cyclodextrin in the form of .alpha.-cyclodextrin having the hydrogen atom of at least one hydroxyl group thereof substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of a glucosyl group, a maltosyl group, maltooligosaccharide residues, a hydroxyethyl group, a hydroxypropyl group, a methyl group, a sulfonic group, alkylenesulfonic groups, and carboxyalkyl groups.

Inclusion-complexing agent for use in isolation of xylene isomer(s)

This invention is concerned with a process for separating isomers of disubstituted benzenes, wherein a mixture of isomers of disubstituted benzenes is contacted with a substituted cyclodextrin to form inclusion complexes, and desired isomers are recovered therefrom in a highly selective manner. The invention also provides substituted cyclodextrins suited for use in the process. Substituted cyclodextrins used in the process can be recovered and used repeatedly.

Process for separating isomers of disubstituted benzenes and agents to

A mixture of xylene isomers or a mixture of a xylene isomer(s) and ethylbenzene is brought into contact with at least one specific substituted .alpha.-cyclodextrin to form an inclusion complex(es) of the substituted .alpha.-cyclodextrin with a xylene isomer or ethylbenzene included therein, from which the xylene isomer(s) and/or ethylbenzene is then extracted to isolate, or separate, the same. Inclusion-complexing agents usable in isolation, or separation, of the xylene isomer(s) and/or ethylbenzene are substitited .alpha.-cyclodextrin in the form of .alpha.-cyclodextrin having the hydrogen atom of at least one hydroxyl group thereof substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of a glucosyl group, a maltosyl group, maltooligosaccharide residues, a hydroxyethyl group, a hydroxypropyl group, a methyl group, a sulfonic group, alkylenesulfonic groups, and carboxyalkyl groups.

Process for isolating xylene isomer(s) and/or ethylbenzene and

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Tsukuba, Japan

Isamu Uemasu