Extractive distillation of ethylbenzene from aromatic mixtures - using phenol or a cresol in moderate amt. as solvent

摘要

Sepn. of ethylbenzene from 8C aromatic hydrocarbon fractions comprises an extractive distillation in which the solvent is at least partly phenol or a cresol. The boiling point of the phenol or cresol is pref >180 degrees C, esp., >200 degrees C, and m-cresol is pref. The wt. ratio of solvent/charge is pref. 1-8, esp., 1.3-1.8. The distillation press. is pref. 0.5-5 atmos. esp., 1-2. Pure ethylbenzene is used to prepare styrene. The process does not require superfractionating columns operating at a high reflux ratio and a high solvent/charge ratio is not required unlike the extractive distillation process of U.S. 3105017. using 1,2,4-tricholorobenzenen and trichlorophenols.