THE PROCESS OF ISOLATING METHYL-4-FORMYLBENZOATE AND DIMETHYLTEREPHTALATE

摘要

Disclosed is a method of isolating and recovering methyl-4-formylbenzoate (MFB) and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) at high purity from a mixture of byproducts produced in a process of producing DMT from p-xylene as a starting material through oxidation and esterification reactions. In the method, methyl-4-formylbenzoate (MFB) included in the byproduct mixture is isolated at high purity by converting it into an acetal compound through reaction with alcohol, and DMT is isolated and recovered from the byproduct mixture from which the MFB has been removed. The method does not generate sulfur dioxide gas, which is noxious and corrodes equipment, and in addition, it alleviates economic and environmental problems associated with the use of an excessive amount of solvent and the generation of wastewater.