Separation of alkyl-substituted phenolic isomers with barium-potassium

Abstract

A process for the coextraction of para-cresol and meta-cresol from a feed mixture comprising p-cresol, o-cresol and m-cresol and one other alkyl phenol with an adsorbent comprising an X zeolite exchanged with barium ions or a mixture of barium and potassium ions at exchangeable sites to preferentially adsorb both para- and meta-cresol. The adsorbent must contain at least about 5 wt. % water (LOI method). The coextracted cresol isomers are thereafter removed from the adsorbent by contacting it with a desorbent material and recovering said coextracted cresols as a product stream. Para-cresol and meta-cresol can thereafter be recovered as purified individual isomers by a second state adsorptive separation using a second adsorbent selective for para-cresol, e.g., said first adsorbent dried to an LOI of less than about 4 wt. %, preferably about 2 wt. % water. In a preferred embodiment, the process uses a simulated moving-bed countercurrent flow system in both adsorption separation steps.