PROCESS FOR PREPARING m-HYDROXYALKYLBENZENE

Title:

PROCESS FOR PREPARING m-HYDROXYALKYLBENZENE

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/1998/017615

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

It is an important problem in a process for preparing a m-hydroxyalkylbenzene by sulfonation, isomerization, hydrolysis, and alkali fusion of an alkylbenzene how to facilitate the control of the step of hydrolysis for efficiently and steadily preparing a contemplated m-hydroxyalkylbenzene. The present invention relates to a process for preparing a m-hydroxyalkylbenzene by isomerizing an alkylbenzenesulfonic acid mixture in the presence of sulfuric acid to give an alkylbenzenesulfonic acid mixture having a high m-isomer content, selectively hydrolyzing the alkylbenzenesulfonic acids other than the m-isomer, and caustically fusing the nonhydrolyzed alkylbenzenesulfonic acid to prepare a m-hydroxyalkylbenzene, characterized by starting the hydrolysis while continuously adding water or steam to a reaction mass having a sulfuric acid content of 18 to 25 % by weight in the temperature range of from 160 to 190 �C, gradually increasing the sulfuric acid content of the reaction mass, and terminating the hydrolysis in the temperature range of from 162 to 168 �C when the sulfuric acid content of the reaction mass reaches 30 to 40 % by weight.

Inventors:

TAKAHASHI SHIGENOBU (JP)
MAKI SEIJI (JP)
KOMIYAMA NAOKI (JP)

Application Number:

PCT/JP1997/000346

Publication Date:

April 30, 1998

Filing Date:

February 10, 1997

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation Help

Assignee:

TAOKA CHEMICAL CO LTD (JP)
TAKAHASHI SHIGENOBU (JP)
MAKI SEIJI (JP)
KOMIYAMA NAOKI (JP)

International Classes:

C07C37/04; C07C39/06; C07C303/02; C07C309/30; (IPC1-7): C07C39/06; C07C37/04

Foreign References:

JPH0840960A	1996-02-13
JPS59108730A	1984-06-23
JPS49110638A	1974-10-22

Other References: