Separation of a schiff's base from the condensation product of a primary amine with a carbonyl compound

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR RECOVERING A SCHIFF''S BASE FROM THE CONDENSATION REACTION MIXTURE OF A PRIMARY AMINE AND A CARBONYL COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE ALDEHYDES AND KETONES WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL HYDROLYSIS OF SAID SCHIFF''S BASE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WATER CONTAINED IN SAID CONDENSATION REACTION MIXTURE WHICH COMPRISES CONTACTING SAID CONDENSATION REACTION MIXTURE IN LIQUID PHASE WITH A SOLID DEHYDRATING AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE ANHYDROUS ALKALI AND ALKALINE EARTH METAL CARBONATES, THEREBY AT LEAST PARTIALLY DEHYDRATING SAID CONDENSATION REACTION MIXTURE, THEREAFTER PASSING SAID PARTIALLY DEHYDRATED MIXTURE IN A LIQUID STATE COUNTERCURRENT TO ANHYDROUS AMMONIA GAS TO STRIP UNCONDENSED PRIMARY AMINE AND CARBONYL COMPOUND THEREFROM, AND CONTACTING THE RESULTING LIQUID RESIDUE OF THE STRIPPING OPERATING WITH A DEHYDRATING AGENT TO REMOVE