Separation of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene from 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene by extractive distillation

摘要

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene is difficult to separate from 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene can be readily separated from 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene by extractive distillation. Effective agents are 3-nitrotoluene, m-cresol and sulfolane.