Method of regenerating zeolite to remove acetone and water

摘要

A method of regenerating hydrous zeolite which contains acetone as well as water after having been used to dehydrate hydrous acetone of the invention which comprises: placing the hydrous zeolite in a closed system in which a heated inert gas is circulated at a pressure more than atmospheric pressures to bring the inert gas into contact with the hydrous zeolite to remove the acetone and water from the zeolite, and condensing the acetone and water in the closed system and removes them from the closed system. The method is in particular useful for regenerating hydrous zeolite which has been used to dehydrate hydrous acetone resulting from the reaction of L-sorbose with acetone to produce diacetone-L-sorbose, and which thus contains acetone as well as about 1000-4000 ppm of water therein.