PURPOSE: To convert hydroquinone existing in a crude aqueous solution of resorcinol effectively to a compound easily separable from resorcinol, by oxidizing the aqueous solution at a specific pH range, thereby selectively and exclusively oxidizing the hydroquinone.
CONSTITUTION: A crude aqueous solution of resorcinol containing hydroquinone and produced by the acid decomposition, etc. of m-diisopropylbenzene dihydroperoxide which is obtained by the oxidation of m-diisopropylbenzene, is adjusted to pH6.5W9.5 with a proper amount of a basic compound such as NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2, Na2CO3, etc., and oxidized at 50W100°C, pref. 60W90°C using an oxidizing agent such as O2 or an O2-containing gas e.g. air. The hydroquinone is selectively oxidized by the process and converted to a compound which can be separated easily from resorcinol.
NAKAGAWA HIROAKI
NANBU HIROHIKO
