Process for obtaining para-cresol and meta-cresol from a mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols containing meta-para-cresol

摘要

Para-cresol and meta-cresol are separated from a mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols by a two-stage process wherein the para- cresol is preferentially complexed with one or more anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic salts selected from calcium bromide, lithium bromide, manganese bromide and magnesium chloride. Then the meta-cresol is successively preferentially complexed with calcium bromide from the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols from which the para-cresol complex has been removed. The anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic salt is added to the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols including para- cresol and meta-cresol in an amount to give a mole ratio of the salt to para-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 to one to about 1.5 to one. The para-cresol-salt complex is removed from the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols and then decomposed to recover the para- cresol. The mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols including meta- cresol from which the para-cresol has been removed has added to it calcium bromide in an amount to give a mole ratio of calcium bromide to meta- cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 to one to around 1.0 to one. The addition is performed in the presence of a non-aqueous solvent and at a temperature in the range of -10° C. to about 40° C. The meta-cresol-salt complex is separated from the second mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols and the complex is decomposed to produce a high purity meta-cresol.