Separation of close-boiling substituted phenols by anhydrous calcium hydroxide and recovery of phenols from calcium phenoxides by carbonation

Separation of close-boiling phenolic mixtures of p-cresol/2,6-xylenol and o-methoxyphenol/alkylphenols has been successfully accomplished by «dissociation extraction» using solid anhydrous calcium hydroxide. Separation factors having very high values were realized. The phenols were recovered from their calcium salts by carbonation of filtered calcium salts suspended in a nonpolar organic medium.