Eliminating aluminium contg. catalysts from phenol alkylation prods. - by treatment with water at elevated temps. to form crystalline metal aluminate

摘要

Proces for eliminating aluminium-contg. catalysts from alkylation prods. of phenols comprises treatment with water at 165-250 degrees C to cause formation of crystalline metaluminate, and subsequently isolating the ppte. formed. Aluminium is pptd. in the form of coarse aluminate crystals which are easily sepd. by filtration, in contrast to prior art process using water treatment which give gelatinous pptes. of aluminium hydroxide which is difficult to remove by filtration. Pref. 3-20 moles water are used per mole Al and the treatment is carried out at 185-220 degrees C. Any alkylphenols absorbed on the surface of the ppte can be removed with an inert solvent such as paraffins, olefins, naphthenic hydrocarbons, their halogen derivs., alcohols, ethers, ketones, etc.