Purification of 2,6-xylenol streams

Claim 2

An improved method for separating 2,6-xylenol from admixture with meta-para-cresols by methylating meta-para-cresols with methanol over a catalyst to form 2,4-/2,5-xylenol and 2,3-xylenol, then separating 2,6-xylenol from the product mixture by distillation, wherein the methylation is carried out at temperatures of from about 400° C. to about 500° C., pressures of from about atmospheric to about 10 atmospheres and a methanol/phenolic mole ratio of from about 0.1 to about 5.0, the improvement comprising using a catalyst comprising (a) about 85 to about 90% by weight magnesium oxide, (b) 3 to 8% by weight amorphous titanium, chromium, uranium, or mixtures of these, (c) 1.5 to 8% by weight sulfate ion, all based on the total weight of the catalyst.

Claim 3

A method as described in claim 1 wherein 3 to 8% by weight amorphous titanium or chromium or mixtures of these is used.

Claim 4

A method as described in claim 2 wherein the methylation is carried out continuously.

Claim 5

A method as described in claim 3 wherein the LHSV is from about 0.5 to about 10.0.

Claim 6

A method as described in claim 4 wherein the catalyst in addition contains from about 1.0 to about 4.0% by weight silica.

Claim 7

A method as described in claim 5 wherein the catalyst contains in addition from about 1 to about 2% by weight graphite pelletizing lubricant.

Claim 8

A method as described in claim 6 wherein the catalyst is formed with amorphous titanium.

Claim 9

An improved method for separating 2,6-xylenol from admixture with meta-para-cresols by methylating meta-para-cresols with alkylating agents selected from the group consisting of ethanol, isopropanol, propylene, and isobutylene over a catalyst to form 2,4-/2,5-xylenol and 2,3-xylenol, then separating 2,6-xylenol from the product mixture by distillation, wherein the methylation is carried out at temperatures of from about 400° C. to about 500° C., pressures of from about atmospheric to about 10 atmospheres and an alkylation agent phenolic mole ratio of from about 0.1 to about 5.0, the improvement comprising using a catalyst comprising (a) about 85 to about 90% by weight magnesium oxide, (b) 3 to 8% by weight amorphous titanium, chromium, uranium, or mixtures of these, (c) 1.5 to 8% by weight sulfate ion, all based on the total weight of the catalyst.

Claim 10

An improved method for separating 2,6-xylenol from admixture with meta-para-cresols by methylating meta-para-cresols with alkylating agents selected from the group consisting of ethanol, isopropanol, propylene, and isobutylene over a catalyst to form 2,4-/2,5-xylenol and 2,3-xylenol, then separating 2,6-xylenol from the product mixture by distillation, wherein the methylation is carried out at temperatures of from about 400° C. to about 500° C., pressures of from about atmospheric to about 10 atmospheres and an alkylation agent phenolic mole ratio of from about 0.1 to about 5.0, the improvement comprising using a catalyst comprising (a) about 85 to about 90% by weight magnesium oxide, (b) 3 to 8% by weight amorphous titanium, chromium, uranium, or mixtures of these, (c) 1.5 to 8% by weight sulfate ion, all based on the total weight of the catalyst.