Process for separating isomers of toluidine

Abstract

This invention comprises a process for separating p-toluidine from a feed mixture comprising p-toluidine and o- or m-toluidine, which process comprises contacting the mixture at adsorption conditions with an adsorbent comprising an X or Y-type zeolite cation exchanged with a cation in the group Fe, Mn, Co, Ni or Zn, thereby selectively adsorbing the p-toluidine. The remainder of the feed mixture is removed from the adsorbent and the p-toluidine is recovered by desorption at desorption conditions with a desorbent material comprising aniline or an alkyl amine excluding alkyl amines having eight or more carbon atoms per molecule when the adsorbent comprises an X-type zeolite.