PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ISOPHORONE

摘要

A process for the production of isophorone involving side-stream removal of a fraction in which colour forming compounds are concentrated and treatment thereof with a strong mineral acid to decompose the contaminants into higher boiling compounds. Additionally the bulk of the isophorone is separated form the aqueous phase in the presence of a strong acid which serves to neutralise the alkali catalyst. Such treatment aids phase separation and minimises beta-isophorone production. Alpha-isophorone is recovered from both fractions.