Recovering ethylphenol from decomposition products of diethylbenzene

Abstract

A process for recovering and separating substantially pure ethylphenol and substantially pure diethylbenzene from a mixture resulting from the decomposition of diethylbenzene monohydroperoxide and consisting essentially of diethylbenzene, ethylphenol and oxygenated by-products thereof, said process comprising distilling said mixture in a first distillation step operated under reduced pressure to separate a distillate comprising essentially diethylbenzene from a first residue comprising ethylphenol and the oxygenated by-products of said mixture, withdrawing said residue and distilling said first residue in a second distillation step operated under reduced pressure to separate a distillate consisting essentially of ethylphenol from a second residue containing from 30 to 40 mole % of ethylphenol in admixture with said oxygenated by-products, withdrawing said second residue and mixing it with the distillate from the first distillation step, treating the resulting mixture with an aqueous alkaline solution to form an aqueous extract and a raffinate, recovering ethylphenol from said extract and distilling said raffinate in a third distillation step to obtain a distillate consisting essentially of diethylbenzene and a residue consisting essentially of ethyl-acetophenone and 1-(ethylphenyl) ethanol, said extract is neutralized with a mineral acid to regenerate ethylphenol as a separate organic phase which is then mixed with the residue from said first distillation column, for purification in said second distillation column.