摘要 |
<p>An alkali-metal benzoate is prepared besides benzyl alcohol from a contaminated benzyl benzoate reaction residue obtained in the oxidation of a monoalkyl-benzene compound with a gas containing molecular oxygen. The disclosed process provides for distillation of the contaminated benzyl benzoate in the presence of a basic substance and the resulting distillate is hydrolyzed using an alkali-metal base. In this way, the benzyl benzoate that previously could not be separated from certain tar components by distillation is converted into a pure alkali metal benzoate such as sodium benzoate, besides pure benzyl alcohol, so that a waste product that was previously useless is converted into useful substances.</p> |